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 
Ph 
SA 
S.Amer
Thai 
Tz 
Ug 
EU
How campaign began
HK:how
long prison for trafficking?
www.AsylumSeekerHK.com
Tues March 20
Email comments from HK barristers re article about my anti-drug campaign in last Sunday's SCMP: Congratulations on an excellent article, which hopefully will result in some changes made at both the sentencing and the investigation level.
Great article. Spot on assessment of the C & E failures and nonsense.
How
Snowden escaped from Hong Kong - and why he wants to leave Russia
My article in today's Ming Pao newspaper has the topic: Easter and Ching Ming. It is on Ming Pao website - click "Australian in HK". Text without recording
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The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Isaiah 7: A foreign king and his army attacked
Jerusalem.
The king of Judah and his people were full of fear. God told Isaiah to say to the king of Judah:
"Keep calm, have no fear. You will not be defeated. The Lord himself gives you a sign of his protection:
a maiden is with child and will give birth to a son
whom she will call God-with-us."
Lord, please help me
understand how you are God-with-me every day
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
122: I rejoiced when I heard them say
"Let us go to God's house." And now our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.
For the peace of Jerusalem pray
"Peace be to your homes." For love of the house of the Lord
I will ask for your good.
Lord, may your peace be in our
hearts and homes
Listen
Acts
9.1-19: Paul kept up his campaign against the Lord's
disciples.
He got the ok to arrest followers of the Way in Damascus. But on his way to Damascus, a light from
heaven surrounded him.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying "Paul, Paul, why are
you persecuting me?" He said "Who are you, Lord?"
The voice replied "I am Jesus, and you are persecuting me.
Go into Damascus and you will be told what to do". Paul's eyes were open, but for more than a day
he was without his sight, and he ate and drank nothing. The Lord got
Ananias, a disciple in Damascus,
to visit Paul and pray for him. The Lord said to Ananias "Paul
is my chosen instrument to bring my name to non-Jews and Jews. He will
suffer much for me". Ananias went to
Paul and prayed for him with the laying on of hands.
Straight away, Paul could see again. Then Ananias baptized him
Jesus, please help me understand
how unkindness to others is unkindness to you
Listen
Luke
8.1-3: Jesus went to many towns and villages,
proclaiming the Good News.
The 12 apostles went with him, as did a group of women who had been healed
of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna and
several others.
These women used their own money to support Jesus and the apostles.
Jesus, thank you for all the women who support
the spread of the Good News in today's world
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: It took intervention from Heaven to turn Saul into Paul. Seems same such intervention is needed to persuade Vatican to allow women deacons etc (c.f. Mary McAleese)
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(sent by a friend who saw it in HK last
week)
--------------------------------------
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 20th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Sichuan
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 20th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Gambia
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
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Mon
March 19
Feast of Saint
Joseph
Yesterday morning at McDonald's after nearby 8.30 Mass at St Paul's, YMT - with Julia, Enzo and Nicholas (I'm trying to meet a different family/group each week)
Yesterday's South China Morning
Post:
Guardian
angel: priest vies to save drug mules from a failing system
China
ramps up social media censorship
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The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Feast of St
Joseph
2 Samuel 7: After
David settled
into his palace and the land enjoyed peace, David thought about building a
temple for the Lord. Then through the prophet Nathan the Lord told David:
"I will establish your dynasty for ever. But it will be your son, not
yourself, who will build a temple for me." David praised God: "Who am
I, Lord, and what is my House, that you have helped me so much and promised me
so much? May my House continue in
your presence for ever. May you bless my House forever."
Jesus, Son of David, give peace to our world
My recording of this reading
Psalm
134: I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord; through all ages my
mouth will proclaim your truth. Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for
ever, that your truth is firmly established as the heavens. "I
have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David
my servant: I will establish your dynasty for ever, and set up your throne
through all ages".
Jesus, Son of David, may your kingdom of peace come in our troubled world
Recording
Revelation
22.16-20: "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to
make these revelations to you for the sake of the churches. I am of David's
line, the Root of David,
the Bright Star of the Morning". The Spirit and the Bride say:
"Come". Let all who want eternal life say: "Come". Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Jesus, Son of David, come into our world!
Recording
Matthew
1.18-24: 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.' When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of
the Lord had told him to do.
Jesus, Son of David, save your people from war and strife
Recording
Reflection on the above readings:
Correction
to popular use: Joseph was the step-father,
not foster-father of Jesus, because
Joseph was the husband of Mary, and Mary was Jesus' biological mother. c.f.
What's
the difference between foster father and step father?
St Joseph, pray for our families!
--------------------------------------------------------
10
years ago: Wendy in wheelchair at Marco Polo
- enjoying therapy from Helen & nurse Chau + visit of Ling & Peter & Blue Sky
------------------------------------------
(in
honor of March 19, St Joseph): Thief broke into
convent of Sisters of St Joseph. Then a voice was heard: Joseph is watching.
Voice was again heard: Joseph is watching. Thief uses torch....sees that
"voice" is a parrot. Thief goes on putting items in his sack. Voice
then says to huge guard dog: "Get him, Joseph!"!!!
--------------------------------------
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 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, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
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Sun March 18
Two
days ago at the Consulate General of Venezuela, the Consul General asked our
Voice for Prisoners
team to find a video company/team to make an interview for use by Venezuelan
media...warning people about the danger of drug trafficking to HK. After the
meeting, as two of us VfP members sat at a coffee shop on the lobby level of the
same building, who should come and sit next to us but a man with video
equipment! His company is willing to help make the interview! How do you spell P
R O V I D E N C E ?!
Thai
hill tribes wake up and small coffee
Encouraged by an Italian priest, villagers are growing coffee beans instead
of opium poppies
2018
St Patrick's Day Message from President Michael D. Higgins
2018
St Patrick's Day Message from President Michael D. Higgins
-----------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Lent 5
Jeremiah 30-31: God told Jeremiah to tell the people these words:
"I will restore you to health.
I will heal your wounds.
I have loved you with an everlasting love.
Strong and constant is my love for you. I will bring back the exiles and save them.
I will change their sorrow into joy. The days are coming when I will make a new agreement with my people.
Deep within their hearts I will plant love of my Law. I will be their God and they will be my people.
I will forgive all their sins."
Lord, please plant love of you
deep within my heart
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
51: Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness,
and cleanse me of my sin. My offences truly I know them.
What is evil in your sight I have done. But in my defence please don't forget that
sinfulness is part of the human condition, part of our DNA. A pure heart create for me, O God.
Put a steadfast spirit within me. Give me again the joy of your help.
With a spirit of fervor sustain me.
Lord, you will not spurn
a humbled, contrite heart
Listen
Hebrews
4.12-16:
The word of God is something alive and active.
It goes deep into our hearts. In Jesus we have the supreme high priest who
is now in the highest heaven. He knows how weak we are. He himself was
tempted in every way, but did not sin. Let us be confident in approaching his throne
of grace.
He will give us grace when we are in need of help
Jesus, our high priest, help me when I'm weak
Listen
John
12.23-33: Jesus said to his apostles Andrew and Philip
"Now the time has come for me to be glorified.
Unless a wheat grain goes into the ground and dies, it remains only a
single grain. But if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. Now sentence is being passed on this world.
Now Satan is to be defeated. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I
shall draw all people to myself". By these words, Jesus indicated the kind of
death he would die.
Jesus, lifted up on the Cross, you are the
Saviour of the world
Listen
Reflection on the above readings:
Lose
yourself in me (Carey Landry)
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian with English, Chinese and
Spanish subtitles
Daniel Daring: New and Eternal Covenant
--------------------------------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------------------
An
Irishman moves into a tiny hamlet in County Kerry, walks into the pub and
promptly orders three beers. The bartender raises his eyebrows, but serves
the man three beers, which he drinks quietly at a table, alone, one at a time.
The next evening the man again orders and drinks three beers at a time. And so one, each evening for a week. Finally, the bartender broaches the subject "I don't mean to pry, but why you always order three beers at a time?"
"Tis odd, isn't it?" the man replies, "You see, I have two brothers, and one went to America, and the other to Australia. We promised each other that we would always order an extra two beers whenever we drank as a way of keeping up the family bond."
Then, one day, the man comes in and orders only two beers. The bartender pours them with a heavy heart. The bartender offers a quiet prayer for the soul of one of the brothers. After some hesitation, he approaches the man. "I want to offer condolences to you for the death of your brother. You know - the two beers and all
The man ponders this for a moment, then replies, "You'll be happy to hear that my two brothers are alive and well. It's just that I gave up drinking for Lent."
--------------------------------------
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 18th
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 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, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
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Sat
March 17
Happy St Patrick's
Day!
Yesterday morning fellow board members of Voice
for Prisoners John, Ulises and I attended a most encouraging
meeting at the Consulate General of Venezuela ....discussing our anti-drug
campaign. Photo here
After HK$56m cocaine haul in noodle machines,
Customs seeks help
(what a brilliant idea...communication with overseas
agencies....about time...
see tomorrow's South China Morning Post Magazine
for story about this issue ...calling on HK Customs to (*#!%%@^!)!
Fr Shay Cullen:
Profile
of a dictator
The answer to dictatorships is
awareness and enlightenment
San
Diego bishop calls Trump's border wall "ineffective and grotesque"
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Isaiah
6: In the year 740 B.C.,
I had a vision of the Lord God in Heaven: Above the Lord were 6 angels who cried out
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God.
His glory fills the whole earth." Then I heard a voice asking
"Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?" I answered "Here I am, send me."
Then the Lord sent me to be a prophet to the
people
Here I am, Lord, send me.
I'm willing to do anything you want me to do
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
120-121: I call to the Lord in the hour of my
distress:
"Lord save me from people who speak with lying lips". Long enough have I been dwelling with those
who hate peace.
I am for peace, but they are for fighting. I lift up my eyes to the mountains.
From where shall come my help? My help shall come from the Lord
who made heaven and earth. The Lord is our guard and our shade.
Day and night we shall not be afraid. The Lord will guard our going and coming
both now and forever.
Lord, please protect us from
danger, day and night
Listen
Acts
8.14-17:
The apostles in Jerusalem heard that people
in Samaria had accepted the word of God. Peter and John went to Samaria
to pray for the Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit. So far the Samaritans had only been baptized
in the name of the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit had not come down on them. When Peter and John prayed over them with the
laying on of hands, the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit.
Come Holy Spirit. Come down on me. Please help me
understand the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation
Listen
Luke
7.36-50: A religious leader invited Jesus for a meal.
A woman who had a bad name heard that Jesus was at the leader's home.
She entered the house and knelt behind Jesus, crying. Her tears fell on
Jesus' feet and she wiped them away with her hair. She covered his feet
with kisses, and put ointment on them.
The leader was thinking "If Jesus is a prophet, he would know what
sort of woman is now touching him". So Jesus said to the leader "I
came into your house and you did not follow the custom of pouring water on
my feet. But this woman has poured out her tears on my feet. You gave me no welcoming kiss, but she has
been covering my feet with kisses. You gave me no welcoming oil on my
head, but she has anointed my feet. And I tell you that her sins must have been
forgiven, or she would not have shown such great love. People who are forgiven little,
show little love"
Jesus, please forgive my sins. Help me
show great love
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Each of us can ask - how much love do I show? Little or much?
-------------------------------------
Last night as I walked to nearby Queen Elizabeth Hospital
to visit a prison inmate (who is making a remarkable recovering Thank
Goodness!), I met another inmate on the street! ...in pyjamas....he's on bail
....is a patient in QE ....and is not supposed to leave the hospital in his
pyjammas for a meal at an outside restaurant ....with drip connection on one
hand!
--------------------------------------
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 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, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
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Fri March 16
Yesterday morning I visited a prison inmate who is seriously ill in a local hospital. Yesterday afternoon I attended a two hour meeting related to my anti-drug campaign. Last night at the usual Thursday meal with homeless people I was a referee at one stage when two guests had a heated argument. Two other guests were babies...both "ex-inmates"....who, like all babies these days, make a bee-line for any mobile phone showing in a pocket!
Beautiful one-minute video: Pope
meets with Taoist delegation from Taiwan
Reform urged after court raps asylum appeal ruling
Judge quashes a decision against pregnant woman, slamming adjudicator as
"cynical" and lacking in compassion
-------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Isaiah 5: My friend had a vineyard on a fertile
hillside.
He planted choice vines in it and expected it to produce good grapes.
But it produced only sour grapes.
That vineyard is Israel. Its owner is the Lord.
That chosen plant is the people of Judah. The Lord expected the people of Israel to
produce justice.
But those people have produced only bloodshed and injustice. Those people have no time to think about the
Lord.
They have no interest in what he has done for them. So they are consigning themselves to ruin.
The vineyard will be trampled on and become a waste. Invaders will attack Israel.
The people of Israel will be taken into exile.
All because they rejected the Lord.
"I am the true vine. My
Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that bears no
fruit he cuts away. Every branch that does bear fruit he
prunes to make it bear even more" - Jesus (John 15.1-2)
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
119: They are happy who follow God's word,
those who seek God with all their hearts. How can young people avoid evil?
By seeking you and obeying you, Lord. Open my eyes, Lord, that I may understand the beauty of your word.
Lord, when I'm worried or in trouble,
your word revives me and gives me strength. Lord, keep my eyes from what is false.
Bend my heart to your word and not to love of gain. The word from your mouth means more to me
than silver and gold. The unfolding of your word gives light
and teaches simple people.
Lord, thank you for your word
which gives peace to our hearts
Listen
Acts
8.4-8:
The believers who escaped from Jerusalem went
from place to place spreading the Good News. One of these believers was Philip. He preached about Jesus in a
Samaritan town. The Samaritans welcomed Philip's message
because of the miracles he worked. Unclean spirits came out of many possessed
people,
and a number of handicapped people were cured. Such miracles caused great
rejoicing in that town.
Jesus, let there be more miracles in our day,
especially the healing of handicapped people
Listen
Luke
7.18-30:
John the Baptist, imprisoned by King Herod,
heard the news about Jesus. John sent two of his friends to
ask Jesus "Are you the promised One?" Jesus replied "Go and tell John
what you have seen today: the blind see again, the lame walk, lepers are
cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is
proclaimed to the poor". Jesus then spoke to the people about John:
"Everyone who accepted baptism from John acknowledged God's plan. But
by refusing baptism from him, the religious leaders thwarted what God had
in mind for them".
Jesus, please don't let me do anything to
thwart your plan for my life
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: Persecution in Jerusalem (Acts) caused the Good News to spread in Samaria. The same sort of thing has happened throughout history: Christians persecuted in one place become evangelists in another.
Fridays
of Lent:
----------------------------------------------
10 years ago today: Marco Polo helpers- Dr He & future doctors from Zhaoqing Medical
College, UK photojournalist David Clark & Min, Macau Rotary Club members & HK Rosa H
------------------------------------------
To understand above images, check this story!
--------------------------------------
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 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, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
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Thu March 15
Yesterday I was at Stanley men's prison.... a long trip from my home ..... from 10am to 6pm ....visiting inmates whose families I met in South America in January ...and other inmates whose court cases are coming soon. I was hoping to practice a bit of Spanish but the rapidly improving English of the South Americans in much, much better than my poor Spanish.
After a long and sometimes trying day, I must say I was encouraged by the second half of the article below by Chris McDonnell (starting at "there are times...")
Chris McDonnell
What's
in a date?
It was on March 15 in 44BCE that Julius Caesar was assassinated
in the Roman Senate. It gave rise to the words in Shakespeare's play
"Beware
the Ides of March"
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The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Isaiah
3-4: Jerusalem is falling into ruins
because its people do not keep the Lord's way. Jerusalem's leaders mislead the people
and lead the way in doing wrong. But soon the Lord will take action.
He will raise up a people who are good. The Lord will protect these special people.
He will be their refuge and help.
Lord, please help our nation to
avoid evil and do good
Recording
Psalm
118: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.
His love has no end. Let the sons of Israel say:
"His love has no end." Let those who honor the Lord say:
"His love has no end." It is better to take refuge in the Lord than
to trust in humans.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. I was falling, falling, falling,
but the Lord was my helper. The Lord is my strength and my song.
He is my saviour. The Lord's right hand has triumphed.
His right hand has raised me up. I shall not die, I shall live
and recount all his deeds. The stone which the builders rejected
has become the corner stone. This is the work of the Lord,
a marvel in our eyes. This day was made by the Lord.
We rejoice and are glad.
Lord, we give thanks to you,
for you are good. Your love has no end
Recording
Acts 7.55 - 8.3: Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked
up and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand. "I can see heaven thrown open", he
said, "and Jesus standing at the right hand of God". At this, the religious leaders at the meeting
covered their ears with their hands. They sent Stephen out of the city and
stoned him. The false witnesses (who were required to throw the first
stones) put down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Paul. As they were stoning him, Stephen prayed
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit". Then he knelt down and prayed
"Lord, do not hold this sin against them". Then he died. Paul
entirely approved of the killing. That day a bitter persecution started against
the church in Jerusalem
and everyone except the apostles fled to the countryside. Paul began working for the destruction of the church. He went from house to house arresting men and
women and sending them to prison.
Jesus, thank you for the example of Stephen
who, like yourself, forgave those who were killing him
Listen
Luke
7.11-17: Jesus and his disciples went to a town called
Nain. Many other people went with them. As they reached the town, a
dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother, and
she was a widow. When the Lord saw her, he felt sorry for her.
"Do not cry" he said. Then he said "Young man, I tell you
to get up". The dead man sat up and began to talk, and
Jesus gave him to his mother. Everyone was filled with awe and praised God
saying "A great prophet has appeared among us. God has visited his
people".
Jesus, please give me the faith to pray that
dead people will come back to life - you who once told your disciples
"to raise the dead"
Listen
Reflection
on the above Bible readings: A
number of times over the years I have prayed for a dead person to come back to
life. No luck so far....but I can't help trying since that's what Jesus said to
do!
-----------------------------
After a pretty tough day yesterday ...not everything went
right ....I found myself singing the chorus of this
old song in the shower!
--------------------------------------
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 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, Thursday,
please pacify Al-Qaeda
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Wed March 14
Yesterday morning John Budge (chairman of Voice for Prisoners) and I attended another meeting at the Colombian Consulate General in HK (photo of previous meeting). Once again I learned much ...e.g. the reason why the Drug Lords have been arranging for so many older/elderly drug mules to come to HK in recent years is because HK has an agreement with Colombia whereby inmates who are over 65 or who are seriously ill can apply for transfer back to Colombia. But .... only some finalise the lengthy transfer process. In fact, two elderly Colombian inmates recently died in hospital in HK - R.I.P.
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Isaiah 2:
In the days to come, the mountain of the
Lord's Temple
will be specially blessed. All the nations will come to it and say:
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
that he may teach us his ways
so that we may walk in his paths". When they learn the ways of the Lord,
then the nations will hammer their swords into ploughshares,
their spears into sickles. Nation will not lift sword against nation,
there will be no more training for war. O House of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord!
Lord, please help world leaders
do more for peace in our world
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
117: O Praise the Lord, all you nations.
Acclaim him, all you peoples! Strong is his love for us.
He is faithful for ever.
May all the nations love and
praise you, Lord
Listen
Acts
7.1-54: The meeting of religious leaders had falsely
accused Stephen of being disloyal to Moses. So Stephen gave a long speech, full of loyalty
to Moses. Then he made a stinging attack on the leaders: "You
stubborn people, with your pagan hearts and pagan ears. You are always
resisting the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors did. Your ancestors killed the prophets who
foretold the coming of the Just One. You have gone further: you
have killed the Just One himself". When the leaders heard these words, they were
very angry and wanted to kill Stephen.
Jesus, Just One from heaven, please don't let
me resist the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit of God, please increase your
influence in my life
Listen
Luke
7.1-10: Jesus went to the town of Capernaum. In the
town there was a Roman soldier, a centurion, who had a dear servant who
was sick and close to death. Having heard about Jesus, the centurion sent
some Jewish friends to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant. The Jewish friends said to Jesus "He
deserves this of you. He is friendly to our people. He is the one who
built our prayer hall". Jesus went with them, but before they
reached the house the centurion sent some servants with the message
"Sir, I am not worthy to receive you into my house. This is why I
didn't come to you personally. Just say a word, and my servant will
be healed". When Jesus heard these words, he said to the
crowd following him
"I have not found faith as great as this man's". When the messengers got back to the house,
they saw that the servant was healed and in perfect health
"Jesus, I am not worthy to receive
you. Say but the word and I shall be healed" (prayer
from Communion service)
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: The Centurion's servant was probably Jewish....and the Centurion was concerned so much about him/her that he humbled himself to ask a Jew (Jesus) to help. What a good man. He even built the local synagogue.
-------------------------------------------------------
10 years ago today: Marco Polo
helpers - students from Ke Ji College & soldiers from local PLA base
------------------------------------------
One happy item from this morning's meeting at Colombian
Consulate: not one drug mule from Colombia arrested at HK airport so far this
year. Thank you Jesus!
--------------------------------------
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 Jilin
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 Ethiopia
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
---------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
Tues March 13
If President Xi Jinping is incapacitated....or worse...there
might be a faction fight to choose a replacement, since no successor is in line
I would like to nominate South Korea's President Moon Jae-in for
the Nobel Prize ...for bringing together the presidents of North Korea and the
US!
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Isaiah 1: Listen, heaven and
earth,
for the Lord is speaking: "The ox knows its
owner and the donkey its master's crib.
But my people have rebelled against me. I am tired of your
hypocritical lives,
tired of offerings given with dirty hands. You are so greedy for
profit,
always looking for bribes. Take your wrong-doing
out of my sight.
Stop doing evil. Learn to do good.
Practise justice towards the poor.
Help the oppressed, the orphan and the widow. Then, though your sins
are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow."
Lord,
please help me "wash my hands" by doing good for poor people
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
116: I love the Lord for he has heard the cry of
my appeal.
He turned his ear to me in the day when I called him. They surrounded me, sorrow, distress and the
snares of death.
I was helpless, so the Lord saved me. Calm down my soul, for the Lord has been good.
I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living. How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to
me?
The cup of salvation I will raise to thank the Lord. O precious in the eyes of the Lord is the
death of his faithful.
Lord, you have loosened my bonds. I am your servant.
Thank you, Lord, for all your
goodness to me
Listen
Acts
6.8-15: One of the seven deacons, Stephen, was filled
with grace and power.
He began to do many miracles. A group of Jews tried to beat Stephen in a
debate. But they could not win, because the Holy Spirit was guiding
Stephen in his speech. The group then got some men to falsely accuse
Stephen of being disloyal to Moses and to God. The group had Stephen arrested and brought
before a meeting of the religious leaders. At the meeting, false witnesses
accused Stephen of speaking against Moses and the Law.
Jesus, please protect people who are accused
by false witnesses
Listen
Luke
6.46-49:
In his teaching, Jesus said "Why do you call
me 'Lord', yet do not do what I ask you to do? Anyone who comes to me and listens to my words
and puts them into practice is like a man who built his house on a solid
foundation. That house was so well
built that even floods could not damage it. But anyone who listens and does not put my
words into practice is like a man who built his house without a
foundation. As soon as floods came, the house collapsed".
Jesus, please help me put your words into
practice; help me apply them in my daily life
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings: People
ignore God's message (Isaiah); if we ignore Jesus' message, we are like a house
built without a foundation (Gospel)
--------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------
HK nursing homes were extra busy during last Sunday's
by-elections....when pro-Beijing parties again ran non-stop bus shuffles from
nursing homes to polling stations ...where seniors were constantly reminded what
number to vote for!
--------------------------------------
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 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, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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)
2018:
My trip to Latin America
--------------------
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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頌 恆 神 父
jdwomi@gmail.com
HK
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China
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