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 19
6 days to Christmas. Come Jesus, Flower of Jesse's stem, sign of God's love for all his people: save us without delay
Both of these are good!
THE DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY
and
A
Facebook Christmas Story
Yesterday I spent more than 8 hours at Tai Lam women's
prison....seeing inmates whose families I'm due to meet soon in South America
...and meeting inmates preparing for court trials. The number of inmates'
families I'm due to meet is now 48, but that figure will probably be much higher
after I visit Lo Wu women's prison tomorrow. The meetings
will be in the form of lunch gatherings in Mexico City, Bogota, Caracas,
Paramaribo, Lima, Santa Cruz, Asuncion, Ciudad del Este, Buenos Aires and Sao
Paulo. (Q: how many countries are these 10 cities in? A: 9 ...Cidudad and
Asuncion are both in Paraguay). I always did like geography at school
....so....I'm
happy now to be learning much about South America!
10 people
executed for drug crimes in China
- executed immediately after being sentenced! No such thing as an appeal against
sentence. No wonder HK people are frightened that HK will become just another
Mainland city.
My article in today's Ming Pao newspaper has the topic: Winter Festival and Christmas. It is on Ming Pao website - click "Australian in HK". Text without recording
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Dec 19
Judges 12-13: Jephthah
was judge in Israel for 6 years. For the following 25 years, Ibzan (7 years),
Elon (10 years) and Abdon (8 years) were judges. After
these judges, the Israelites again were unfaithful to the Lord and so they were
oppressed by the Philistines for 40 years. It was then that the angel of the
Lord appeared to Manoah's wife and said to her: "You are barren and have
had no child. But you will soon conceive and bear a son. No razor is to touch
his head, for he shall be dedicated to the Lord from his mother's womb. It is he
who will rescue Israel from the Philistines". The woman gave birth to a son
and called him Samson. The child grew and the Lord blessed him.
Dear Lord, please bless all barren women
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
Recording
Alleluia, alleluia! Root of Jesse,
set up as a sign to the peoples, come to save us, and delay no more. Alleluia!
Recording
Luke
1. 5-25: When
Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah and his wife
Elizabeth who were really good people, but they were childless. Once when they
went to the Temple in Jerusalem, Zechariah entered the inner sanctuary to burn
incense, while all the people prayed outside. An angel appeared and said
"Zechariah, your prayer has been heard. Your wife will have a son and you
must name him John. He will prepare the way of the Lord". Not long after
this, Elizabeth conceived, and for 5 months she kept to herself, thanking God
for taking away her humiliation at not being able to have a baby.
Jesus, please help childless couples to have a baby
Recording
Reflection on the above readings:
The
conceptions of Sampson and John the Baptist remind us that He who designed the
womb can program pregnancies
for special occasions ....preparing us for the conception of Jesus
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This time last year when I went to St Paul's YMT for
Sunday Mass, I noticed something about the Christmas stable: the cow statue was
in the empty crib. An ox in the box! I evicted it and asked the donkey on the
other side of the crib to keep an eye on things.
--------------------------------------
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 19th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shanxi
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 19th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Sudan
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 18
7 days to Christmas. O Come, Divine Messiah, our troubled world urgently needs your peace
(4 mins) Where's the line to see
Jesus?
Ivory
will no longer be sold in China but battle to save elephants not over yet
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The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. Readings for Dec 18
Jeremiah 23: See,
the days are coming, it is the Lord who speaks, when I will raise a virtuous
Branch for David, who will reign as true king and be wise, practising honesty
and integrity in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel dwell in
confidence. And this is the name he will be called: The-Lord-our-integrity.
Jesus, Branch of David, may the coming Christmas
celebration of your birth give more integrity to our world
Psalm
72: O God, give your judgement to the king, to a king’s son your
justice, that he may judge your people in justice, and your poor in right
judgement. For he shall save the poor when they cry, and the needy who are
helpless. He will have pity on the weak, and save the lives of the poor.
Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, who alone works wonders. Ever blessed his
glorious name. Let his glory fill the earth. Amen! Amen! Jesus,
save the lives of the poor!
Recording
Matthew 1.18-24 (a): This
is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph;
but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the
Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a man of honour and wanting to spare her
publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this
when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son
of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has
conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and
you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who
is to save his people from their sins."
Recording
Matthew 1.18-24 (b): Now
all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the
prophet: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a
son, and they will call him Emmanuel, a name which means
"God-is-with-us." When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the
Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home.
Jesus, Saviour, Emmanuel, we praise you Lord
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
The
Gospel says how Jesus will be Emmanuel, "God with us".
From "God be with you" came "Godbwye" which became "Godbye"
which became "Goodbye".
Each time we say "bye bye" or "bye" or
"goodbye" to someone, let's remember the meaning "God be with
you".
--------------------------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
Sihui - baby Ho now much better - Biliary Artresia in retreat
------------------------------------------
At
last night's weekly gathering for the poor, a group of about 20 secondary
students from Newman College served the poor and put on a music performance for
them. The group were all volunteers ...with two teachers. In freezing cold
weather (for HK). One elderly guest summed it up: "Thank you for warming
our hearts"!
--------------------------------------
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 18th of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shandong
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 18th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Ivory
Coast
And praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
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Dec 17: 3rd Sunday of Advent
7
days to Christmas:
Come Jesus, Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love:
teach us to walk in the paths of knowledge
Has
had 6,177,634 views:
Mary,
Did You Know?
Recommended by a reader in Australia:
(3 mins) We
don't charge for humanity
(42
mins) St
Paul's Letter to the Philippians
(David Pawson)
- with fascinating historical info re the city of Philippi
Jesus please bless Pope Francis on his 81st birthday today!
-----------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Advent 3
Isaiah 61: The spirit of the Lord has been given to me,
for the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news
to the poor,
to bind up broken hearts, to proclaim liberty to captives,
freedom to those in prison, to comfort people who mourn,
to replace their sadness with praise. I exult for joy in the Lord,
my soul rejoices in my God, for as the earth makes plants to
grow,
and as a garden makes seeds spring up, so the Lord will make integrity
and praise
spring up in the sight of the nations.
Lord, please give comfort and courage to people
who are sad
My
recording of this reading
Luke
1.46-56: Mary said "My soul praises the
greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior. Starting
from today, all generations will call me blessed, for the Almighty has
done great things for me". Mary stayed with Elizabeth about 3 months and
then went home.
Elizabeth gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives shared her joy.
When the child was circumcised on the 8th day, he was given the name John.
Jesus, please bless all women who are having a
baby today
Listen
1
Thessalonians 5.19-28: Let the Holy Spirit have a free reign in your
life.
Hold on to what is good. Avoid every form of evil. May the God of peace make you holy.
May you be kept safe in spirit, soul and body,
for the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ. God has called you. He will not fail you.
Pray for us. Greet all the believers with the holy kiss.
Read this letter to all the believers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Holy Spirit of Jesus, Holy Spirit of the
Father,
I open my life to you. My heart is yours
Listen
John
1: John the Baptist was sent by God as a witness
to the people about the presence of the Word among them. When religious leaders asked John "Who
are you?", he replied "I am, as the prophet Isaiah prophesied, a
voice crying out: make a straight way for the Lord". When Jesus came to the river Jordan where John
was baptizing, John said "Look, there is the lamb of God who takes
away the sin of the world. He is far more important than I am, because he
existed (as the Word) before I was born. I saw the Holy Spirit come down on him like a
dove. He will baptize people with the Holy Spirit. He is the Chosen
One of God"
Jesus, lamb of God, Chosen One of God, please
baptize me with the Holy Spirit
Listen
Reflection on the above readings:
Daniel Daring: Advent 3
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian with English, Chinese and
Spanish subtitles
--------------------------------------------------------
10 years ago today:
------------------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------------------
A
minister of a city church enjoyed a few drinks, but his passion was for peach
brandy. One of his congregants would make him a bottle each Christmas. One year,
when the minister went to visit his friend, hoping for his usual Christmas
present, he was not disappointed, but his friend told him that he had to thank
him for the peach brandy from the pulpit the next Sunday. In his haste to get
the bottle, the minister hurriedly agreed and left. So the next Sunday the
minister suddenly remembered that he had to make a public announcement that he
was being supplied alcohol from a member of the church. That morning, his friend
sat in the church with a grin on his face, waiting to see the minister's
embarrassment. The minister climbed into the pulpit and said, "Before we
begin, I have an announcement. I would very much like to thank my friend, Joe,
for his kind gift of peaches...and for the spirit in which they were
given!"
--------------------------------------
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 17th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shaanxi
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 17th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Malawi
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 16
If you're wondering why I'm behind in answering email etc, days
like yesterday might help to explain. After Mass and breakfast, I packed for two
prisons and left home at 8.30am for the long trip to Shek Pik men's prison on
Lantau Island where I spent a couple of hours before making the long trip to Lai
Chi Kok men's prison where I stayed till nearly 6pm....then going to meet the
line of 100 poor people lining up for bi-monthly rice boxes near Yau Ma Tei
clinic....getting home around 7.30pm....where a bundle of prisoners' letters
awaited me. No trouble sleeping last night! (and see
below)
Christmas remembers the birthday of the world's
most famous ....prisoner
The child abuse commission didn't flinch. Can Australia show the same
courage?
For HK readers: tomorrow 3pm St Paul's YMT - monthly prayer
meeting for healing (early by one week this month because of Christmas). All
welcome
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Ecclesiastes
8-9: I see injustice in the world:
good people are treated badly; bad people are treated well.
I do know, however,
that good people are in the special care of God. We must try to be happy as much
as we can.
We must try to make the most of our lives. Spend your life with the woman
you love.
Whatever work you have to do, do it well.
Lord, please help me to be
optimistic and cheerful
My
recording of this reading
Ecclesiastes
10-11: Foolish people are lazy, and careless
in speech.
Wise people are diligent, and careful in speech. Young people, rejoice in your
youth.
Young people, remember your Creator in the days of your youth. Let everyone remember: our life
is short.
Don't waste your life. Live life well. Our days pass quickly
and old age is soon at the doorstep. Old age: when to go uphill is
difficult
and even walking is not easy. In all we do, let us love and
honor the Lord our God.
At the end of our lives on earth, it is to God we will have to give an
account of the way we have lived.
Lord, make us know the
shortness of our life so that we may have more wisdom in living our lives
Listen
Revelation
12.7-14:
Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his
angels fought the dragon and his angels. Michael
won. Satan and his followers were driven out of heaven. The
great dragon, the serpent, known as the Devil or Satan,
was hurled down to earth. His angels were hurled down with him. The
dragon began to make war on the children of the woman - those who obey God and bear witness to Jesus.
Jesus,
may your holy angels protect us from Satan
Listen
Mark
13.1-37: Jesus spoke to his disciples about the future:
"On account of my name you will be hated, tortured and killed.
But the Good News of the kingdom will spread to every nation
before the end of the world. At the end of the world, the sun
and moon will stop shining.
Stars will fall from the sky. Then the sign of the Son of Man
will appear in the sky
and all peoples will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with power and glory.
He will send his angels with a loud trumpet
to gather good people from all parts of the earth. Therefore you should
live a good life
and you will have nothing to fear on your last day"
Jesus, please help me live and
grow and die in your love ...and not be afraid of death
Listen
Reflection on the above readings:
Jesus' first coming at Bethlehem was noticed by only a small group of people. His Second Coming will be rather different....
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
------------------------------------------
Inmates at both prisons I visited yesterday enjoyed seeing
printed copy of this image:
--------------------------------------
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 16th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Qinghai
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 16th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Afghanistan
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 15
As
Christmas comes near we start to hear a voice in our hearts telling us to slow
down .... and be with Mary as she awaits the birth of her Baby
A very kind friend in HK has lovingly made a Spanish audio
version of the Cable TV report about my August trip to Guangzhou - here
...and also a Spanish version of a SCMP video about my anti-drug campaign - here
And another kind HK friend has found this
amazing NGO in Brazil.
It has interactive videos -
this one shows prisoners in an over-populated jail. You can interact with
the video through 360 degrees ...click arrows at top left of video to move
around the crowded cell. (Many prison cells around the world are like this
...sardine cans....HK prison cells very, very different)
George
Monbiot:
We
can't keep eating like this
This is the question everyone should be attending to - where is the
food going to come from?
A few days ago a beloved retired assistant bishop of Brisbane -
John Gerry - went home to Heaven. I knew him well. Two memories come to mind:
once at the ordination of an O.M.I. priest, Bishop Gerry talking about the hands
of a priest being "Eucharistic hands" ...saying they should also be
"serving hands". Memory two: I heard him say that when he was on a
national committee helping the poor, he once attended a meeting with then prime
minister Malcolm Fraser...who sat at one end of a long table, with the committee
members at the other ...a big space in between...so that the committee members
were feeling most unwelcome.
-------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Ecclesiastes 6-7: Even if a person studies wisdom, what use is
it?
Wise person and fool both must die. Yet wisdom gives protection and
strength.
And wisdom reminds us that all of us make mistakes.
Therefore we should be slow to condemn others.
Lord, may the memory of my own
mistakes make me slow to judge other people
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
Revelation
12.1-6:
A great sign appeared in heaven:
a woman, dressed in the sun, standing on the moon,
crowned with 12 stars. She was giving birth to a child,
and she cried out in the pain of childbirth. Then a second sign appeared:
a huge red dragon, which wanted to eat the child. The woman gave birth to a
son, the ruler of
all nations. The son was taken straight up to heaven, to
God on his throne.
The woman escaped to safety in the desert,
to a place prepared for her by God.
Jesus, protect us from Satan
who goes round like a hungry lion wanting to eat us
Listen
Mark
12.41-44: Jesus sat down in the Temple area and noticed
people putting money into a donation box to help the poor. Many rich people put in a lot of money.
A poor widow put in two small coins. Jesus said to his disciples "That
poor widow has donated more than all the other people, for they put in
money they had left over, but she put in the only money she
had"
Jesus, please make me more
generous in helping poor people
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
Today's reading from Ecclesiastes reminds us that only God sees what's under the surface in our lives ....as Jesus did in the Gospel
---------------------------------------------
10 years ago today:
Saturday night English Corner - thank you James, John, Dr Ellen, Dr Dean, Angela, Jack,
Jody
------------------------------------------
Catechist to group of small children in front of Christmas
crib a week before Christmas:
Is Jesus in the crib?
Children: not yet.
Catechist: yes he is. He's already there.
Children: but we can't see him.
Catechist: you can't see him him yet, but he's already there.
One child: I get it ...inside his mother Mary!
--------------------------------------
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 15th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Liaoning
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 15th of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of Zimbabwe
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 14
Yesterday I was Stanley men's prison from 9.45am to 6.45pm ...9 hours ...not bad
for an old fella...partly seeing inmates whose families I'm due to meet in South
America soon and partly seeing others whose court cases are coming up soon. A
tiring but happy day....finishing in the hospital section where two elderly
South Americans who don't speak much English (one of them none at all) put my
mini-Spanish to the test. But it's amazing what you can say with just a few
words. e.g. for "when are you due to be released from prison?" (which
according to Google translate is "cuando deberias ser liberado de la
prision") I just said "cuando bye bye Hong Kong?" (as I used my
arms in a flying motion)! (and see
below..)
'Drug smugglers now thinking outside the box'
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Ecclesiastes
4-5: So many things we do are motivated by
jealousy. Two people working together can
succeed.
One person alone is easily defeated.
It is better to be content with what you have,
than to be greedy for wealth.
Lord, please help me not to be
greedy
Psalms
82-83: God says to corrupt officials:
"How long will you judge unjustly and mistreat the poor?
You should do justice for the weak and the orphan.
You should defend the afflicted and the needy.
You should rescue the weak and the poor.
You should set them free from the hand of the wicked". O God, please protect your people from
corruption and injustice.
Save us also from attack by other nations.
Let everyone know that you are the Lord of all the earth.
Lord, please stop corrupt
officials from hurting people
Listen
Revelation
8.1-11.18:
I saw how punishment
is coming for all evil
doers on the earth I heard voices shouting: "The kingdom of
the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ. He will reign
for ever and ever". The 24 elders worshipped God saying:
"We give thanks to you, Almighty Lord God.
The time has come for everyone to be judged.
The time has come for good people to be rewarded
and bad people to be punished"
Jesus, please help bad people stop being bad
Listen
Mark
12.38-40: Jesus told the people to
beware
of religious
leaders who like to walk about in long robes, who like to be greeted obsequiously in the market places,
who like to take the places of honor at prayer halls and banquets, who steal the property of widows, while making a show of
lengthy prayers
Jesus, help religious
leaders to be good people
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
Followers of Jesus born in a stable should practise "stable spirituality" ...which is the opposite of the the spirituality practised by the leaders in today's Gospel
-----------------------------------------------------
10 years ago today:
Zhaoqing Medical School and Jin Rong College volunteers at Ricci &
Mazenod; Lily's brother; Genevieve; new slums at Assisi
------------------------------------------
Yesterday as I entered the isolation cell of an inmate at
Stanley men's prison ....to check contact info for a meeting with his family in
South America next month....I jokingly asked "do I need to take my shoes
off". We both had a good laugh. Isolation cells are for naughty boys (chicos
traviesos!). I
also showed the same man a photo of my home (in the little booklet "Dr
Jesus")...saying how my home was only twice the size of his cell!
--------------------------------------
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 14th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Jilin
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 14th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Ethiopia
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Thursday,
please pacify Al-Qaeda
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Wed Dec 13
What
a relief it is to hear Christmas music in shopping centres, at metro stations,
and in the media....it's like the sound of rain falling after a drought. Our
sick world has so many problems.... Christmas offers hope. The darker the
darkness, the brighter the candle shines
China's big
brother - the AI revolution is upon us
(Maybe this will make tougher for the Drug Lords?!)
China building network of refugee camps along border with North Korea
--------------------------------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
An experience of hope -
with an Advent poem: The Coming
Advent is indeed a place called Hope
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Ecclesiastes 3: There's a time and a season for everything:
A time for giving birth,
a time for dying. A time for tears and mourning,
a time for laughter and dancing. A time for embracing,
a time to refrain from embracing. A time for keeping silent,
a time for speaking.
Dear Lord, please help me to do
the right thing at the right time
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
81: Ring out your joy to God our strength,
shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.
Listen to the voice of the Lord: "I am the Lord your God
who brought you out from the land of Egypt. Let there be no foreign god among you,
no worship of a false god. O that my people would heed me,
that Israel would walk in my ways. At once I would subdue their foes.
But Israel I would feed with finest wheat and honey".
Lord, please help us to walk in
your ways
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
12.28-30:
In Jerusalem a religious leader
asked Jesus
"Which is the most important commandment?" Jesus replied
"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart.
And you must care as much about others as you care about yourself. These are the two most important
commandments.
All other commandments depend on these two."
Jesus, please help me love you
with all my heart
and care for others as much as I care about myself
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings:
May
Christmas remind our troubled world that the meaning of life is to be found in
love of our Creator and in care for fellow creatures
-------------------------------------------------------
Last Sunday I sent emails to my OMI confreres in the Latin
American countries I'm soon to visit. After they received my emails, some of
them contacted our OMI headquarters in Rome to see if the messages really were
from an OMI.....such is our world today with so many scams!
--------------------------------------
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 13th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Jiangxi
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 13th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Mali
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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