V2Catholic.com A voice for the
poor Edited
by HK prison chaplain
Fr John Wotherspoon
O.M.I . 胡頌恆神父
jdwomi@gmail.com
Links, Search
& Archives Imitating
Pope
Francis
This
website's anti-drug campaign saves people from going to prison in HK
See & share inmates'
letters!
HK
Indon
Kenya
Nigeria 
Phil
S.A.
S.Amer
Thail
Tanz
Ug
EU
How
campaign began
HK:how
long prison for trafficking?
www.AsylumSeekerHK.com
Tues Dec 12
Recommended by a reader in Australia:
Christmas
song - O Holy Night, by the Indian group Sanam
Yesterday I went to two prisons: Shek Pik men's prison on Lantau Island (...a
long trip) then, on the way home, to Lai King young women's prison. As usual,
inmates were quick to wish me a Happy Christmas. In the past I was slow to wish
them a Happy Christmas (...how can you be happy in prison?...) but now I
understand more clearly that Christmas really does cause inmates to be happy.
Such is the effect of the Bethlehem Baby. (And
see 
below!)
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Ecclesiastes 1-2:
Everything is
temporary and passing.
What's the use of all our toil?
Our life is over in a few days.
What's the use of all our toil? The same fate awaits
both wise person and fool.
Death is always just around the corner.
Dear God, please
help me understand the meaning of life. Help me understand that there is life in heaven after life on earth
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
79-80: O God, the nations have invaded your sacred
land,
they have profaned your holy temple.
They have made Jerusalem a heap of ruins. We have become the taunt of our
neighbours,
the mockery and scorn of those who surround us. How long, O Lord, will all this last?
How long will this sorrow keep going? Do not hold the guilt of our ancestors against
us.
If their guilt is somehow influencing our situation now
please give peace and healing to everyone and everything
in our history. Let the groans of the prisoners come before
you.
Let your strong arm reprieve those condemned to die. O Lord, our God, help us and save us.
Let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
Lord, please heal any problems
in my family tree
Listen
Revelation
7.9-17: I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of
people from every nation, race, and language. They were standing in front of the throne,
with palms in their hands.
They shouted: "Victory to our God,
who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb". One of the elders told me who these people
are:
"These are the people who have been through the great persecution.
They now serve God day and night in his sanctuary. The Lamb is their
Shepherd. He leads them to springs of living water. God has wiped away all
tears from their eyes"
Jesus, please help sorrowing people who are
crying today
Listen
Mark
10.46-52:
As Jesus was leaving Jericho on his way to Jerusalem,
many people followed him along the road. Sitting by the road was a man
who had become blind.
His name was Bartimaeus ("son of Timaeus").
When he heard that Jesus was going past,
he called out "Son of David, have pity on me". Some people tried to stop him
from calling out,
but he shouted even more loudly "Son of David, have pity on me".
Jesus stopped and said to him
"What do you want me to do for you?" He
replied "Lord, let me see again".
Jesus said to him "Go, your faith has saved you".
Immediately his sight returned, and he followed Jesus along the road.
Jesus, please heal my blind
friend (.. name ..)
Listen
Reflection on the above readings:
The Baby in the stable is he who heals and helps us until the day we see him face to face in Heaven when every tear will be wiped away
-------------------------------------------------------
10 years ago today:
Latest update re A-Lin (cancer on neck) ....now living at Marco Polo Center
------------------------------------------
After visiting Lai King young women's prison yesterday, I
went to Mei Foo to collect an eye prescription item for an inmate in another
prison. I had the address on a receipt from the shop, so I showed it to a young
guy selling phones in the area where I'd been told the shop was. Quick as a
flash he put the address into one of his phones, then said with a big
smile....it's just behind where we are standing!
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia,
Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent, N America
Jesus,
today, Tuesday,
please bless the people of
South
Asia
And praying for
prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 12th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Jiangsu
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 12th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Guinea-Bissau
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
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Mon Dec 11
Well done, HK police force!
Cocaine and Erimin 5 worth 20mn HK
dollars seized
Maybe I'll soon be visiting criminals who didn't stand for
national anthem at races?!
Should Hongkongers stand for national anthem at horse
races?
Yesterday afternoon I spent much time sending emails to friends in 8 different South American countries I'm due to visit soon. This trip is more complicated than previous trips to Africa (each one to just 2-3 countries). But it's a long way to go to S. America, and I don't expect to go again, so this trip has to cover a lot of ground, so to speak, since there are inmates from almost every South American country in prison in HK
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Proverbs
30-31: Every word of God is true and of great value.
Do not change or misinterpret God's words. Do not give way to sexual excess.
Do not give way to drunkenness. Be the voice of the poor, the
unwanted.
Uphold the rights of the needy. Happy the man who finds a good wife.
She is far beyond the price of pearls. She looks after her household with care.
She works diligently for her family. She holds out her hand to the poor.
She opens her arms to the needy. Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty.
The woman who is wise is the one to praise.
Lord, thank you for all the
wisdom in the Book of Proverbs!
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
78: Listen, everyone, to my teaching.
I will recount the lessons of our history. The things our parents have told us,
we will not hide from our children,
but will pass them on to the next generation.
We want the next generation to know all that the Lord has done for us in the past.
May the next generation in turn
pass on this knowledge to their own children,
so that they too will put their hope in God
and never forget all that God has done for us. May future generations not be like our
ancestors
who so often were unfaithful to God. Even though our ancestors had seen God part
the sea,
even though they had seen him provide food and water for them
in the desert, still they went on sinning. Yet he who is full of compassion forgave and
spared them.
He remembered they were only weak humans. Eventually he brought them to the promised
land
and gave a home to each of Israel's tribes. But still they sinned by building mountain
shrines
and serving idols. Then God raised up David to be their
leader. God called him from looking after sheep to be the shepherd of his people.
Lord, help us not to forget all
you have done for us
Listen
Revelation
5.11-14: I heard the
sound of an immense number of
angels gathered around God's throne. There were 10,000 times 10,000 of
them, shouting:
"The Lamb that was sacrificed is worthy to be given power,
riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing". I heard all living things in creation -
angels, people, animals - crying out: "To the One sitting on the
throne and to the Lamb, be all praise, honor, glory and power for ever and
ever".
"Thou are worthy, Thou art worthy, Thou
are worthy O Lord,
to receive glory, glory and honor, glory and honor and power"
Listen
Mark
10.35-45: The brothers James and John were two
of Jesus' disciples.
One day their mother said to Jesus
"When you become king, allow my sons to sit at your right and
left". Jesus said to his cousins James
and John
"Only my Father in heaven can allocate seats on my right and
left". The 10 other disciples were angry
at James and John for seeking honor. So Jesus said to them all
"In most places, people in power like to dominate and control others.
But this is not to be your way of exercising authority. You must exercise authority by
serving others, not dominating them,
just as I came not to be served, but to serve,
and to give my life as a ransom for the world"
Jesus, please help me want to
help and serve other people,
not dominate and control them
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings:
All Christians should try to be "a voice for the poor" (Proverbs)
....like Pope Francis
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
239b: Listen
In a culture which privileges dialogue as a
form of encounter, it is time to devise a means for
building consensus and agreement while seeking the goal of a just,
responsive and inclusive society.
The principal author, the historic subject of this process, is the people as a whole and their culture, and not a single class, minority, group or elite.
We do not need plans drawn
up by a few for the few, or an enlightened or outspoken minority which claims to
speak for everyone. It is about agreeing to live together, a social and
cultural pact.
-------------------------------------
To
go with today's readings from Proverbs:
Wife of famous US preacher Billy Graham used to have a note on her fridge: Divine
Service is held here 3 times a day !
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia,
Pacific
Frid: South America
Sat: Cent, N. America
Jesus,
today, Monday,
please bless the people of Europe
& Russia
And
praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On
this 11th of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Hunan
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 11th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Eritrea
And praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
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Sun Dec 10
2nd Sunday of Advent
Two thousand years ago, a young husband and his soon-to-deliver wife were on a long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem...not by train/plane/bus or car...but by donkey...Mary riding, Joseph walking. A journey of around 150 km ....longer than from HK to Guangzhou (119km) or from Brisbane to Toowoomba (127km)...about same as from Melbourne to Morwell (152km). A trip that would have taken around 10 days. See Hiking the Nativity Trail from Nazareth to Bethlehem. In our prayers over the next two weeks before Christmas, let's often remember Joseph and Mary and Jesus travelling to Bethlehem.
-----------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Advent 2
Isaiah 40: "Console my people, console them"
says the Lord. A voice cries out "Prepare in the
wilderness a way for the Lord.
Make a straight highway for our God across every desert. Let every valley be filled in,
every mountain and hill be laid low.
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed
and all people will see the Lord's glory." Go up on a high mountain,
joyful messenger to Zion. Shout with a loud voice,
joyful messenger to Jerusalem. Shout to the towns of Judah
"Here is your God".
Lord, please help me prepare
your way
into my heart, into my family, into my world
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
85: I will hear what the Lord God has to say,
a voice that speaks of peace.
Peace for his people and his friends
and those who turn to him in their hearts. His help is near for those who love him
and his glory will dwell in our land.
Mercy and faithfulness have met.
Justice and peace have embraced. Faithfulness shall spring from the earth
and justice shall look down from heaven. The Lord will make us prosper
and our earth shall yield its fruit. Justice shall march before him
and peace shall follow his steps
Lord, please give more peace to
our world
Listen
2
Peter 1.20 - 3.18: We must be careful to understand Scripture
according to God's mind.
We are not free to make up our own interpretations as we like. In the past there were false prophets. So
there will always be false prophets and teachers who twist the truth to
suit their own tastes and corrupt behavior. They will have much to
answer for when the Day of the Lord comes. Our brother Paul has written to you about this
issue. Sometimes his writing is not easy to understand, and is distorted by false teachers.
Avoid false teaching. Stand firm in the truth.
Go on growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To him be glory, in time and in eternity. Amen
Jesus, protect me from people who
distort the Bible message
Listen
Matthew
1.1-8: This is the
story of the Good News about Jesus Christ,
the Son of God. Long ago God
said through the prophet Isaiah
"I am going to send my messenger before you. He will prepare your
way. A voice cries out in the wilderness: prepare a way for the
Lord". And so it was
that John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness,
proclaiming a baptism for the forgiveness of sins. As the people
were baptized by John in the river Jordan,
they confessed their sins. John wore a
garment of camel skin.
Locusts and wild honey were his food. He said to the
people "Someone is coming who is more important than I am. I am not
worthy to kneel down and undo his sandal straps.
I baptize you with water. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit".
Jesus,
please help us prepare a way for you like John the Baptist
Listen
Reflection on the above readings:
Prepare ye
the way of the Lord (from "Godspell")
Daniel Daring: Good News We can return home, to the roots of our faith, to God. We have been living in the exile of sin far too long, we have forgotten our Christian identity, and we have begun to doubt God's promises
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian with English, Chinese and
Spanish subtitles
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
239a: Listen
The Church proclaims "the
Gospel of peace" and she wishes to cooperate with all national and
international authorities in safeguarding this immense universal good.
By preaching Jesus Christ, who is himself peace,
the new evangelization calls on every baptized person to
be a peacemaker and a credible witness to a reconciled life.
----
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------------------
To
go with today's Gospel:
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia,
Pacific
Fri: South America
Sat: Cent., N America
Jesus,
today, Sunday,
please bless the people of
Africa
And praying for
prisoners in one part
of China each day of the month:
On this 10th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Hubei
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 10th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Guinea
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
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Sat Dec 9
Yesterday morning I
attended court with an inmate. Late yesterday afternoon and early last night I
attended a gathering and Mass at the Cathedral. In between these two
appointments I did a number of jobs, including the application for a Suriname
visa. Of the South American countries I'm due to visit after Christmas, all but
two issue visas on arrival...the two being Brazil and Suriname. Brazil has an
on-line visa application service ....done. But Suriname requires one's documents
and passport be processed in Beijing. So, at a DHL office on the way to the
cathedral, with a heavy heart I parted with my beloved passport, praying it will
come back from Beijing on time before Christmas. "All I want for Christmas
is my ....passport" (please God!)
同性婚姻合法化：为了政治野心，牺牲民众信仰自由Same-sex
marriage: religious liberty sacrificed to political ambition
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Proverbs
27-29: Do not boast about tomorrow,
since you do not know what will happen today. Let others praise you,
but do not praise yourself. Better open reproof
than voiceless love. From one who loves, wounds are
well-intentioned.
From one who hates, kisses are ominous. He who admits his faults will prosper.
He who confesses and renounces his faults will find mercy. A roaring lion, a hungry bear,
such is a bad ruler of a poor people.
Lord, please help me practise
the ideas in these words
My
recording of this reading
Psalm3
73-77: Sometimes when I see how bad people prosper,
I wonder what's the use in trying to be good? But then I realize that
everyone someday has to pay the bill
for any evil they have bought in the world. Sometimes when I see
our world and religion in ruins,
I wonder why has God abandoned us? Then I remember that
God has promised to break the power
of the wicked. He has promised to give strength to good people. So may all people honor
the Lord our God and judge.
May the Lord give us his loving help.
Lord,
you are goodness itself. Please help us to be good
and to trust you always
Listen
Revelation
5.1-10:
I saw a sealed scroll that no one could open.
Then I saw a Lamb, which seemed to have been sacrificed. The Lamb took the scroll, and the 24 elders
sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll
and break its seals
because you were sacrificed, and by your blood
you ransomed us for God
out of every race, language, people and nation"
Jesus, Lamb of God in heaven. We praise
you Lord
Listen
Mark
10.28-30: On behalf of all the disciples,
Peter asked Jesus
"What about us? We have left everything to follow you." Jesus replied "You will be
leaders in the church on earth. Anyone who has left home, family
or country for the sake of my name, will receive a 100-fold blessing in
this life,
and will also receive eternal life in Heaven."
Jesus, please bless all Gospel
workers
Listen
Reflection on the above readings:
Today's reading from Proverbs speaks about bad leaders. So many examples come to mind...including the leaders in Australia who passed same-sex marriage legislation this week. Today's Psalms give hope in the face of bad leadership: God has promised to give strength to good people
----------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
252: Listen
01 Listen
02
To Christians, this principle
("the whole is greater than the part") also evokes the
totality or integrity of the Gospel which
the Church passes down to us and sends us forth to proclaim. Its fullness
and richness embrace scholars and workers, businessmen and artists, in a word,
everyone. The genius of each people receives in its own way the
entire Gospel and embodies it in
expressions of prayer, fraternity, justice, struggle and celebration. The
good news is the joy of the Father who
desires that none of his little ones be lost, the joy of the Good Shepherd who finds the
lost sheep and brings it back to the flock. The
Gospel is the leaven which causes the dough to rise and the city on the hill
whose light illumines all peoples. The Gospel has an
intrinsic principle of totality: it will
always remain good news until it has been proclaimed to all people, until it has
healed and strengthened every aspect of humanity, until it has brought all men
and women together
238
Listen:
Listen:
Evangelization
also involves the path of dialogue. For the Church today, three
areas of dialogue stand out where she needs to be present in order to
promote full human development and to pursue the common good: dialogue
with states, dialogue with society -
including dialogue with cultures and the sciences - and dialogue
with other believers who are not part of the Catholic Church. In each
case, "the Church speaks from the light which faith offers",
contributing her two thousand year experience and keeping ever in mind the life
and sufferings of human beings. This light transcends human reason, yet it can
also prove meaningful and enriching to those who are not believers and it
stimulates reason to broaden its perspectives.
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
Simone now back at Marco Polo Center after eight months at Wong Kong Hospital
------------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent. & N
America
Jesus,
today, Saturday,
please bless the people of Central
& North America
And
praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 9th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Henan
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 9th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Central
African Republic
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
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Fri Dec 8
Feast
of the Immaculate Conception
of Mary by her mother Anne
This feast reminds us that it is possible to defeat evil - e.g. the evil of drugs. Drug taking can be stopped. Whenever evil wins a battle, it can still lose the war. From defeats by evil, greater goodness than previously thought possible, can become possible.
A man sent his friend a Christmas card. It
said: A B C D E F G H I J K M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z. The recipient
puzzled over it for weeks, finally gave up and wrote asking for an explanation.
He received the explanation on a postcard: "No L." (The
1st Noel)
-------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
c.f. readings for Immaculate Conception
Genesis
3: A
creature hostile to God took the form of a snake and tempted the first man and
first woman. The snake tempted them to disobey God. When God asked them why they
disobeyed him, the man blamed the woman, and the woman blamed the snake. God
said to the snake: "You are the enemy of the human race. Someday a member
of the human race will defeat you." God said to the man and woman:
"From dust you came and to dust you will return." The first
man's name was Adam (meaning "man"). The first woman's name was Eve
(meaning "life").
Dear God, please help me understand how evil in the world started when
Adam and Eve disobeyed you
My
recording of this reading (and see
below!)
Psalm 98: Sing
a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders. His right hand has brought
salvation. The Lord has made known
his salvation. He has shown his justice to the nations. He has remembered his
truth and love for the house of Israel. All
the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout to the Lord all
the earth, ring out your joy. Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp, with the
sound of music. Let the sea, the world and all peoples acclaim the King, the
Lord. Let the rivers clap their hands and the hills ring out their joy at the
presence of the Lord, for he comes to rule the earth. He
will rule the world with justice and the peoples with fairness.
Lord, may all peoples in all countries know your love and goodness
Recording
Ephesians
1: Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in
Christ. Before the world was made, he chose us, chose us in Christ, to be holy
and spotless, and to live through love in his presence, determining that we
should become his adopted children, the people who would put their hope in
Christ before he came.
God our Father, before Mary was born, you chose her to be Jesus' mother.
Before I was born, you chose me to be a brother/sister of Jesus
Recording
Luke 1:
In the sixth
month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of
Nazareth in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary who was betrothed to a man named
Joseph. The angel said to her "Mary, Rejoice! You have been greatly blessed
by God. You are to conceive and have a son whom you must name Jesus. He
will be great and will be called the Son of God". Mary
said to the angel, "How can this happen since I am a virgin?" The
angel replied "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most
High will specially bless you. Know this too: your cousin Elizabeth has, in her
old age, conceived a son, and is now in her sixth month". "I
am the handmaid of the Lord", said Mary, "let what you have said, be
done for me". And the angel left her.
God the Son, thank you for becoming a baby in Mary's womb
Recording
Reflection on readings:
Mary got involved, from start to finish - Mary a model re Pope Francis' words "get out", "get involved", "look outwards"
Assumption reflection - Vatican II encourages a healthy love for the mother of Jesus
----------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
235: Listen
The
whole is greater than the part, but it is also greater than the sum of its
parts. There is no need, then, to be overly
obsessed with limited and particular questions. We
constantly have to broaden our horizons and see the
greater good which will benefit us all. But this
has to be done without evasion or uprooting. We need to sink our roots deeper
into the fertile soil and history of our native place, which is a gift of God. We
can work on a small scale, in our own neighbourhood, but with a larger
perspective. Nor do
people who wholeheartedly enter into the life of a community need to lose their
individualism or hide their identity; instead, they receive new impulses to
personal growth. The global need not stifle,
nor the particular prove barren.
236:
Listen
Here our model is not
the sphere, which is no greater than its parts,
where every point is equidistant from the centre, and there are no differences
between them. Instead, it is the polyhedron
(!), which reflects the convergence of all its parts, each
of which preserves its distinctiveness. Pastoral
and political activity alike seek to gather in this
polyhedron the best of each. There is a place for
the poor and their culture, their aspirations and their potential. Even people
who can be considered dubious on account of their errors have something to offer
which must not be overlooked. It
is the convergence of peoples who, within the universal order, maintain their
own individuality; it is the sum total of persons within a society which pursues
the common good, which truly has a place for
everyone.
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
Saturday night English Corner at Ricci Memorial Centre. Thank you Claire, Garth and John
------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid: S.
America
Sat: Cent, N. America
Jesus,
today, Friday,
please bless the people of South
America
And praying for
prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 8th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Heilongjiang
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 8th of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of Sierra Leone
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
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Thu Dec 7
Yesterday afternoon I went to Queen Elizabeth Hospital to apply
on behalf of some prison inmates for medical reports ....and to renew my
hospital chaplain's pass....and to visit a patient. Hospitals are places where
God's presence can be seen - in the dedication of the staff, in the love of
visiting relatives, in the courage of patients.
Trump's Jerusalem statement
an act of diplomatic arson
Pope among many critics urging president not to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's
capital
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Proverbs
25-26: Cloud and wind, but no rain.
Such is the person who makes a lot of promises
but doesn't keep them. Don't over-tax your neighbor's hospitality. If people who don't like you are hungry or
thirsty,
give them something to eat or drink.
In this way you will shame them into being better people. Rain comes by the north wind.
A ravaged face comes from a backbiting tongue. An open town, without
defences.
Such is a person lacking self-control. As a dog returns to its vomit,
so foolish people return to their folly. Interfering in the quarrels of other people
is like catching a stray dog by the tail. No wood, and the fire goes out.
No talebearer, and quarrelling dies down.
Lord, please stop me from
being critical of other people
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
72: O Lord, please bless the king,
that he might serve your people with justice. May the mountains bring forth peace for the
people
and the hills, justice.
The kings of Sheba and Seba bring him gifts.
All nations will serve him. He will save the poor when they cry for help
and the needy who are helpless. He will have pity on the weak
and save the lives of the poor. May every tribe be blessed in him.
May every nation bless his name.
May all the nations know and
love you, Lord
Listen
Revelation
4.1-11:
In my vision I saw a door open in heaven.
The same voice as before said to me
"Come up here. I will show you what is to come in the future". I saw God in all his glory,
being worshipped by the angels who sang: "Holy, Holy, Holy
is the Lord God, the Almighty". And I saw 24 elders around the throne.
They were praising God saying.
"You are our Lord and our God.
You are worthy of glory and honor and power
because you are the Creator of the universe"
"Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God, Almighty.
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee"
Listen
Mark
10.17-27: A young man asked Jesus
"Master, what do I have to do to get to Heaven?" Jesus replied "Keep the commandments:
do not kill; do not commit adultery; honor your father and mother;
care for others as much as you care about yourself". The young man said "I have kept all these
commandments.
What else do I need to do?" Jesus said "If you want to do something
really special with your life, go and sell all your possessions, give the
money to the poor,
then come and follow me as one of my disciples". When the young man heard these words he went
away sad,
because he was very rich.
Jesus then said to his disciples
"It is hard for a rich person to get to Heaven".
Jesus, please don't let riches
endanger my eternal life
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
Jesus practiced what he preached (today's Gospel): as God the Son he gave up the "wealth" of Divine life and glory in Heaven to become poor in this world
-------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
233: Listen
Realities
are greater than ideas. This principle has to do
with incarnation of the word and its being put into practice: "By this you
know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in
the flesh is from God". The principle of reality, of a
word already made flesh and constantly striving to take flesh anew,
is essential to evangelization. It helps us to see that the Church's history is
a history of salvation, to be mindful of those saints who inculturated the
Gospel in the life of our peoples and to reap the fruits of the Church's rich
bimillennial tradition, without pretending to come
up with a system of thought detached from this treasury, as if we wanted to
reinvent the Gospel. At
the same time, this
principle impels us to put the word into practice, to perform works of justice
and charity which make that word fruitful. Not
to put the word into practice, not to make it reality, is to build on sand, to
remain in the realm of pure ideas and to end up in
a lifeless and unfruitful self-centredness and gnosticism.
234. Listen
An innate tension also exists between globalization
and localization. We need to pay attention to the global
so as to avoid narrowness and banality. Yet we also need to look to the local,
which keeps our feet on the ground. Together, the two prevent us from
falling into one of two extremes. In the first,
people get caught up in an abstract, globalized universe,
falling into step behind everyone else, admiring the glitter of other people's
world, gaping and applauding at all the right times. At the other extreme, they
turn into a museum of local folklore, a world
apart, doomed to doing the same things over and over, and incapable of being
challenged by novelty or appreciating the beauty which God bestows beyond their
borders.
-------------------------------------
10 years ago today:
------------------------------------------
Description in yesterday's media of Australian politician
Barnaby Joyce:
Then
Joyce finally spoke, opting for his trademark, high-speed rage that makes him
sound like a man trying to call a horse race while fighting off a bear.
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent, N America
Jesus,
today, Thursday,
please bless the people of
South East Asia
And
praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 7th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Hebei
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 7th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Burkina Faso
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Thursday,
please pacify Al-Qaeda
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Wed Dec 6
Today is the Feast of Saint
Nicholas, from whose name we get the name "Santa
Claus". He was a bishop who cared about poor people. Video:
The
St. Nicholas Tradition.
Today is a public holiday in some countries. And
see , below!
Yesterday morning I was able to stop someone from going to
prison. As I was about to buy some lettuce and tomotoes for my weekly Tues night
salad, I saw a younger woman berating a crying older woman, about to call the
police because the older woman had stolen some items from her stall/shop
(...this gets a prison sentence in HK...). Turns out both women are Indonesian.
Younger one has HK ID. Older one an asylum seeker. Younger one eventually agreed
to accept some money from older one...and not call police. I then phoned another
Indonesian woman, also an asylum seeker, whom MercyHK has helped ...lives
nearby. I took the older one to the MercyHK lady. Story then came out: older woman's
daughter in Indonesia is very ill but family can't afford hospital treatment. Older
women has been stealing items and selling them to get money for the sick
daughter. If any kind reader would like to help the sick daughter in Indonesia,
please let me know: jdwomi@gmail.com
Beautiful words from God
Calling for Dec 4:
"In your dark hours, when human help fails, keep very close to the Man of
Sorrows. Feel my hand of love press yours in silent but complete understanding.
I, too, was acqainted with grief. No heart can ache without my heart aching
too"
There's
a warning here for HK: wake up now or face the same result!
How to live faithfully when freedom has been taken away
----------------------------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
The
colours of Autumn, forgotten stories
In the middle of writing these few words on memory,
a friend knocked at the door to take me out to lunch. I had forgotten
he was coming!
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Proverbs 23-24: If someone invites you for a meal,
be careful not to make a pig of yourself. Don't waste your breath talking
to foolish people. Make sure your children receive a
wholesome discipline. Don't be a drunkard.
Don't be a glutton.
Avoid prostitution. Brains are better than brawn. If you make a big mistake and
fall, get up and start again.
Lord, please help me put
into practice the ideas in these words
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
71: In you, O Lord, I take refuge.
Please hear me and help me. Be a rock where I can take refuge.
Rescue me from people who want to hurt me. It is you, O Lord, who are my hope.
In you I have trusted since I was young. From my mother's womb you have been my help.
My hope has always been in you. Now that I am old, please do not forget me.
Now that my strength fails, do not abandon me. Now that I am old and grey-headed,
may I continue to trust in you and proclaim your help. To you I will sing with the harp.
All day long my tongue will tell of your goodness to me.
Lord, may all elderly people
put their trust and hope in you
Listen
Rev
3.14-17:
He gave me this message for the church in
Laodicea: "You are neither cold nor hot. I wish you
were one or the other.
But since you are lukewarm, you are cutting yourself off from me. You are rich in this word's goods, but you are
spiritually poor. Listen to this message and repent".
Jesus, please don't ever let me become a
lukewarm Christian
Listen
Mark
9-10:
Some people brought their little
children to Jesus.
They hoped Jesus would put his hands on the children and bless them.
Jesus' disciples told the people to go away
and not bother Jesus.
But Jesus said "Don't stop the little children from coming to
me". Then he put his hands on them and blessed them. Jesus also said "Anyone who welcomes one
of these little children in my name, welcomes me. But anyone who causes
scandal to one of these little ones, commits a great
crime".
Jesus, please help all children
to know you from their earliest days.
Please don't let parents prevent children from coming to you.
Please heal children who have been scandalized by adults
Reflection
on the above readings:
By
knowing that Santa Claus was actually St Nicholas, may children "come to
Jesus" (Gospel). If children have no idea Santa Claus is connected with
Jesus, they are being prevented from coming to Jesus
-------------------------------------------------------
For St Nicholas' Day! Tradition says he really did spend
time in prison!
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E.Asia, Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent, N America
Jesus,
today, Wednesday,
please bless the people of East
Asia
And praying for
prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 6th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Hainan
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 6th of the month, Jesus please
bless the people of Liberia
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
---------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
Please also join me in praying for the very many deformed and handicapped people from China who are on the streets of HK as beggars...as well as deformed people in China itself ...like Hung Chun Cai
My Africa trips:
2015: Tanzania, Malawi
2016:
Kenya, Uganda
2017:
Southern Africa, Dubai (
The
Last Run)
--------------------
Australian Chinese for
Families Association
Gay marriage: an elephant in the room (by John W)
Video:
What "gay
marriage" did to Massachusetts
同志婚姻自2004年立法後，美國麻省的改變
（ 廣東話附字幕版）
Frightening
YouTube reports:
LGBT radical impact
on educational institutions (No.
5); LGBT
infiltrating churches
(No. 6); US corporations massively
supporting LGBT agenda (No. 7). What
has happened in the US is now starting to happen in other places. Some
day our children will ask "why didn't you do more to stop this evil?"
--------------------------------------------
Pope's surprise visit to drug treatment centre
Pope is practising what he preaches: "get out and mix with the poor"
HK
readers might like to join me in praying each day for one group of HK
prison inmates: Sun:
Lo Wu; Mon: C.I.C., Siu Lam, Tai Lam; Tue: Stanley
Wed: Hei Ling Chau Thu: Lantau
Fri: Lai Chi Kok
Sat: Hospitals, Pik Uk & other centres
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This website was launched in construction
mode in Hong Kong on November 20, 2011 - the Feast of Christ
the King.
The official launching
was
held on the Gold Coast, Australia, on January 20,
2012.
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Thank you for checking this website each day. God bless all readers and bloggers!
Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡
頌 恆 神 父
jdwomi@gmail.com
HK
mobile +852- 67095674
China
mobile +86-13828421861 - (only
when in China)
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