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 
Malaysia 
Nigeria 
Ph 
SA 
S.Amer
Thai 
Tz 
Ug 
EU
How campaign began
HK:how
long prison for trafficking?
www.AsylumSeekerHK.com
Tues May 1
As I arrived at Lo Wu women's prison at 9.40 yesterday morning, I was surprised to see about 30 people, some as individuals, some in small groups, standing outside the main entrance. At first I thought to myself "Why aren't they going in to the visit room? Is there a fire drill etc?". Then when I passed through the main entrance I saw another unusual sight: a group of about a dozen women in casual dress, accompanied by one guard, walking from the prison to the entrance. Then the penny fell: the second group were women being released from detention; the first group were relatives and friends waiting for them! May there be many more such reunions as soon as possible!
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
17.
At times, life presents great challenges. Through them, the Lord calls us anew
to a conversion that can make his grace more evident in our lives, "in
order that we may share his holiness" (Heb 12:10). At other times,
we need only find a more perfect way of doing what we are already doing:
"There are inspirations that tend solely to perfect in an extraordinary way
the ordinary things we do in life".[15]
When Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyên van Thuân was imprisoned, he refused to
waste time waiting for the day he would be set free. Instead, he chose "to
live the present moment, filling it to the brim with love". He decided:
"I will seize the occasions that present themselves every day; I will
accomplish ordinary actions in an extraordinary way".[16]
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The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for St Joseph the Worker (For International Labor Day)
Genesis
1-2: God made the world. God made
the sun, the moon and the stars....the whole universe. God said "Let
there be light" and there was light. God made the earth with all its plants
and trees and animals and fish and birds. God made the first people.....the
first man and first woman. God made them in his own image and said to them
"Be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth." God saw all that
he had made, and all of it was good, very good.
Dear God, thank you for making such a beautiful
world!
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
90: O Lord you have been our refuge from
one generation to the next. Before the earth or the world existed, you are God,
without beginning or end. For you, a thousand years are like yesterday, come
and gone so quickly. We humans have a short life, our life is over like a sigh.
Our span is 70 years, or 80 for those who are strong. Make us know the shortness
of our life, that we may gain wisdom of heart. In the morning, fill us with your
love. Give success to the work
of our hands.
Lord, help us realize the shortness of our life,
that we may live our lives more wisely
Recording
Colossians
3.18 - 4.1:
Wives and husbands, understand and
support each other. Children, be obedient to your parents. Parents, treat your
children fairly or else they will rebel. Slaves, be obedient and respectful to
your owners. Offer up your work to
the Lord, our Heavenly Owner. Owners, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember
your Heavenly Owner.
Jesus, help families to live together in
harmony
Recording
Matthew
13.53-58: One day Jesus went to Nazareth,
his home town. In the prayer hall there he taught the local people. But the
local people would not accept him. They said "Where did he get such
wisdom and miraculous power? He is just a
carpenter's son. His mother is that woman
called Mary. His brothers are James, Joseph, Simon and Jude. His sisters are
here, too. He's nobody special." Jesus said to them "A prophet
is despised only in his own country and his own house". And he did not work
many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Jesus, please give me more faith in you .... and
don't let me reject people
Recording
Reflection on the above readings: On this International Workers/Labor Day, may the example of the carpenter whom Jesus called "father" help us to offer up our work as a prayer to the Lord ... like a woman who used to pray "Jesus, I don't really like washing and ironing, but I offer it up as a prayer asking that you would keep my family safe".
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For International Labor Day:
Pope John XXIII was once asked how many people work at the Vatican.
"About half of them" he replied
--------------------------------------
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 1st
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Anhui
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 1st of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Congo
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
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Mon April 30
Yesterday
morning after
Mass and breakfast at Yau Ma Tei I made the long trip to Eastern Hospital to
visit an inmate who is seriouslly ill. Jesus,
please bless that inmate with your healing love!
Photo from yesterday morning: At nearby canteen after 8.30am Mass at YMT Catholic Primary School - Mrs Ng and her daughter Maria
Last night's weekly gathering for the poor at Yau Ma Tei was attended by 300 guests and about 30 volunteers. Gathering has produced a local choir whose skills improve as each week goes on
Victims
of killings in Manila have same rights as migrant workers in Kuwait
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad" - this
is good!
16. This holiness to which the Lord calls you will grow through small
gestures. Here is an example: a woman goes
shopping, she meets a neighbour and they begin to speak, and the gossip starts.
But she says in her heart: "No, I will not speak badly of anyone".
This is a step forward in holiness. Later, at home, one of her children wants to
talk to her about his hopes and dreams, and even though she is tired, she sits
down and listens with patience and love. That is another sacrifice that brings
holiness. Later she experiences some anxiety, but recalling the love of the
Virgin Mary, she takes her rosary and prays with faith. Yet another path of
holiness. Later still, she goes out onto the street, encounters a poor person
and stops to say a kind word to him. One more step.
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Jeremiah
12-14: Lord, you are in our midst, we are called by your name.
Please give us help and strength in this time of trouble. Wherever I go I see sadness and despair.
Our land has been invaded by the foreign soldier. If I go into the countryside,
I see men killed by the sword. If I go into the city,
I see people sick with hunger. O God, you are our hope.
For your name's sake, please forgive us and help us.
Lord, please help people
whose countries
are under occupation by foreign soldiers
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
5: At the start of this day I pray to you, O
Lord, my King and my God. I offer you my prayer and ask for your
help. Through the greatness of your love, I have
access to your friendship. I bow down in reverence and worship. Lead me, Lord, in the way you want me to go.
It is you, Lord, who bless good people.
You surround them with favors, as with a shield.
Lord, I adore you as my Creator
Listen
Acts
19.23 - 20.1: In Ephesus there was a silversmith who
employed many craftsmen making shrines of the local idol, Diana. The
silversmith called a meeting of the city's silversmiths and said to them
"Not just here in Ephesus, but in many parts of the region, this man
Paul has converted many people with his argument that gods made by hand
are not gods at all. This is a threat to our trade". A mob was formed and dragged two of Paul's
companions to a local theatre. The town clerk eventually calmed the mob
and dismissed them. By now Paul had decided to leave Ephesus. He
went to Greece and spent three months there
Jesus, please help people give up the worship
of idols made by human hands
Listen
Luke
12.22-34: Jesus said to his disciples "Do not
worry about food and clothing.
As regards food, think of the birds.
They don't sow or reap, and they have no homes to store things. Yet God
feeds them.
As regards clothing, think how the flowers grow with a beauty greater than
that of Solomon's clothes. God will look after you more than he looks
after the flowers. So, don't set your hearts on food and
clothing.
Don't go in for worry. Just set your hearts on God's kingdom, then food and clothing will not be a problem.
Where your treasure is, that is where your
heart will be too.
Jesus, please help me to put your friendship
as number one in my life
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Jesus' words in today's Gospel are extraordinary - see here and here
--------------------------------------------------------
At
least one volunteer at last night's gathering for the poor was using
earphones....following the progress of local horse races.
--------------------------------------
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 30th of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shanghai
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 30th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Haiti
And praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
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Sun April 29
Yesterday morning I took part in a very special funeral Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in San Po Kong led by Cardinal Joseph Zen, then had lunch with other OMI's at Notre Dame near Kowloon City, then accompanied one OMI from Australia for a visit to my home and walk around Tsim Sha Tsui, then had a meeting at McDonald's in Jordan with other members of the new NGO "MercyHK". The day involved much walking ...the best way to keep fit!
Over the past few days, while having breakfast, I watched this
inspiring 60 min. video:
Nick Vujicic at Telford
State Prison (and see Wikipedia: Nick
Vujicic)
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
15. Let the grace of your baptism bear fruit in a path of holiness.
Let everything be open to God; turn to him in every situation. Do not be
dismayed, for the power of the Holy Spirit enables you to do this, and holiness,
in the end, is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life (cf. Gal 5:22-23).
When you feel the temptation to dwell on your own weakness, raise your eyes to
Christ crucified and say: Lord, I am a poor sinner, but you can work the miracle
of making me a little bit better". In the Church, holy yet made up of
sinners, you will find everything you need to grow towards holiness. The Lord
has bestowed on the Church the gifts of scripture, the sacraments, holy places,
living communities, the witness of the saints and a multifaceted beauty that
proceeds from God's love, "like a bride bedecked with jewels" (Is 61:10).
-----------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Easter 5
Acts 9.20-31: After a few days,
Paul began preaching in the
prayer halls that Jesus is the Son of God. People were amazed at Paul's
conversion. As time
passed, the Jews planned to kill
Paul. Paul heard of this and decided to leave the city. The Jews kept watch at
the city gates to stop him leaving. Then one night he was able to escape: some
disciples lowered him in a basket from the city wall. He went to Jerusalem and began preaching
boldly in the name of the Lord.
Soon another plot was made to kill him. Therefore the disciples sent him
to Tarsus. After this the churches throughout Judea,
Galilee and Samaria were left in peace. They steadily grew, strengthened
by the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit, please strengthen me, as you
strengthened Paul and the first believers
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
22: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
I call to you for help, but day and night you give no reply. I am a worm and not a man.
Everyone who sees me makes fun of me. They taunt me: "He trusted in the
Lord, why doesn't the Lord help him?" Like water I am poured out, my bones no longer
connected.
My throat is parched, my tongue sticks to my jaws. Many evil people attack me.
They make holes in my hands and my feet.
They await my death. They divide my clothing among them,
they throw a dice for my robe. Yet I know Lord, that you are good and
holy.
I know how you heard the cries of our ancestors and you helped them. It was you who took me from the womb
and entrusted me to my mother's breast.
To you I was committed from my birth,
from my mother's womb you have been my God. Lord, I trust in you even now.
I trust you will not scorn my prayer. Even now I praise you as my Creator.
May all the nations know and worship you.
Lord, please help people who
are in big trouble right now,
especially people whose lives are in danger
Listen
1
John 3.16-21: This has taught us love:
that Jesus gave up his life for us.
We too should give up our lives for others. If you see someone in need
and refuse to help him,
how can the love of God be in you? Our love must be put into practice, not be
just words.
Anyone who loves God must also love other people
Jesus, help me put my love into practice by
helping people in need
Listen
John
15.1-8: At the meal, Jesus said to his disciples
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Each branch in me
that bears no fruit, he cuts off. Each branch that does bear fruit, he
prunes to make it bear even more fruit. As a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, but
must remain part of the vine, so you can't bear fruit unless you remain
in me. Cut off from me, you can do nothing. If you remain in me, and my words are alive in
your heart, you can ask for any good thing and you will get it. It is to the glory of my Father that you
should bear much fruit"
Jesus, please help me stay close to you. Help me bear
much fruit
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings:
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian with English, Chinese and
Spanish subtitles
Daniel Daring: Bearing more fruit (in Chinese)
--------------------------------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------------------
Yesterday
as I accompanied an Australia OMI visitor from Australia (who is a few years old
than I am) for a walk in Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, I invited him to play the
game "Can you see anyone older than we are?" Took quite a while till
we eventually saw one person. The older I get, the more difficult this game
becomes!
--------------------------------------
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 29th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Chongqing
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 29th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Mauritania
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 April 28
Usually on Friday afternoons I'm at Lai Chi Kok men's prison ....1,400 men...but yesterday was different....I was kindly invited to be the guest speaker for the weekly special assembly of Maryknoll Convent School Secondary Section ....800 girls ....angels?...for a talk about my work for the poor. Please God the talk encouraged the students to keep up the fine Maryknoll tradition of concern for the poor
Why
HK is awash with fake goods ....and .... here's
one of the main guys doing the importing and selling
Thank you Jesus for this good news!
Korean leaders promise denuclearisation, peace
Photo
of Pope with 26 priests from China - at Vatican, April 25
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
14. To be holy does not
require being a bishop, a priest or a religious. We are frequently tempted to
think that holiness is only for those who can withdraw from ordinary affairs to
spend much time in prayer. That is not the case. We are all called to be holy by
living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever
we find ourselves. Are you called to the consecrated life? Be holy by living out
your commitment with joy. Are you married? Be holy by loving and caring for your
husband or wife, as Christ does for the Church. Do you work for a living? Be
holy by labouring with integrity and skill in the service of your brothers and
sisters. Are you a parent or grandparent? Be holy by patiently teaching the
little ones how to follow Jesus. Are you in a position of authority? Be holy by
working for the common good and renouncing personal gain.[14]
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Jeremiah
8-11:
Jeremiah said sorrowfully: My people have forgotten God.
My people ignore God.
My people follow false gods.
My people have no time for the real God. Lord, you know how weak we are.
Correct us gently, Lord.
Correct us gently, Lord,
correct us gently
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
4: At the end of this day I praise you, Lord,
for all your love and help. O people of the world, how long will you close
your hearts to God?
How long you will keep on chasing false goals? Lord, you have put into my heart a joy that
cannot be obtained by big meals and plenty of wine. I will lie
down in peace and sleep comes at
once,
for you, Lord, make me dwell in safety and peace.
Thank you, Lord, for your love
and help right through today
Listen
Acts
19.11-20:
So remarkable were the miracles worked by God
through Paul, that even handkerchiefs which had touched him,
were taken to the sick, and they were healed and evil spirits came out of
them. Some believers admitted how they had practised
magic. They collected their expensive books on magic and burnt them in
public. Things like these helped the word of the Lord
to continue spreading.
Jesus, what can I do to help your message
spread?
Listen
Luke
12.16-21: Jesus told the people this story: There was a
rich man who, having had a good harvest from his land, thought to himself
"What am I to do? I don't have enough room to store my
crops". Then he said to himself "This is what I will do: I will pull down my
barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain in them, and I will
say to my soul: My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many
years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, and have a good time". But God said to him "Fool! This very
night your earthly life will come to an end. And all your possessions, who
will get them?"
So it is when people store up treasure for themselves, instead of making themselves rich in the sight of God
Jesus, please help me to be satisfied with
what I have, and not to be greedy
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: How much time do I have each day/night for F/B, W/App, Inst, surfing the net, computer games, reading newspapers/magazines, watching TV? And how much time do I have each day/night for a little bit of Bible reading and prayer? (c.f. Jeremiah, above)
-------------------------------------
Having been a teacher for many decades, I was only too
aware that giving a talk at a school assembly yesterday in the last period on
Friday was a bit of a suicide mission, but to my surprise the students were most
attentive and interested ...helped by some pictures and videos!
--------------------------------------
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 28th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Beijing
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 28th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Lesotho
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
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Fri April 27
I spent most of yesterday at Jordan Prison (= my home!) in my cell (= in front of my computer) catching up on many prison jobs - e.g. many campaign letters in Spanish and Portuguese from South American inmates ....now posted here (2018) and here (2017). Letters may seem like small items, but they are the backbone of the publicity which has caused a huge fall in the number of drug mules coming to HK from South America.
90,000
people keep silence for The Last Post before Anzac Day football match
The
Australian nun who makes Duterte's blood boil
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
13. This should excite and encourage us to give our all and to
embrace that unique plan that God willed for each of us from eternity: "Before
I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated
you" (Jer 1:5).
-------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Jeremiah 7:
At the gate of the Temple in Jerusalem,
Jeremiah proclaimed the word of the Lord: "You people of Judah who come here to worship,
amend your behavior and actions,
and then I, the Lord, will meet you here in this Temple. Do not exploit the stranger, the orphan and the widow.
Do not follow alien gods, do not break the Commandments. If you don't care about bad behavior
and yet keep on coming to my Temple for worship,
your worship is useless
and you are turning this Temple into a robbers' den. This nation refuses to listen to the Lord.
Sincerity has vanished since worship and behavior are not related."
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
3: When people make fun of me for believing in
you, Lord,
I deeply remember how you are my help and my shield. Even when the whole world seems against me,
I can go to bed and sleep easy, knowing that you protect me. O Lord, please rescue me from people who plot
against me.
Lord our savior, please bless everyone who needs help.
Lord, thank you for your
protection and help
Listen
Acts
16.11-15:
For three months, Paul went to the Jewish
prayer hall in Ephesus, speaking boldly about the kingdom of God. When some Jews strongly attacked the Way, he
stopped going to the prayer hall, and began daily discussions in a lecture room.
He kept doing this for two years, with the
result that people from many places, both Jews and non-Jews, were able to
hear the word of God
Jesus, please give more and more people
the
opportunity to hear your word
Listen
Luke
11.37-54: Jesus said to the religious leaders "You
worry so much about cleaning dirty dishes, but don't care about
having a dirty heart full of extortion and wickedness. At meetings and in the market, you like being
treated as people of importance. But in fact you are like unmarked tombs
that people walk on without knowing it. You expect ordinary people to observe
unreasonable laws, while you excuse yourselves from such laws. You don't care about obtaining real wisdom,
and you prevent others from obtaining wisdom". The leaders were stung by Jesus'
words, and they intensified their efforts to trap him in his speech.
Jesus, help religious leaders be
sincere people
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: Jeremiah and Jesus are on the same page: religious leaders who have lost the plot
----------------------------------------------
10 years ago today: Many thanks
to medical team from Saint Teresa's Hospital in HK, with "Wo Jai" for
guide, for running health clinics at Bahkita, Mazenod
and Marco Polo centers
------------------------------------------
Yesterday I had trouble eating breakfast ....because I
started watching a video which made me laugh so much I could not eat. Video will
be at top of this menu in next couple of days
...after I finish digesting it.
--------------------------------------
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 27th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Tibet
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 27th of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of Uganda
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
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Thu April 26
Good News email received yesterday: Dear Father John, Hello. You might not recall who I am, but it is with great
pleasure that I write you this email. You turned up in my dayroom (3B) a few times, during which
time I got to speak to you and you offered me a copy of the simplified version
of the Bible. I recently got released from Lai Chi Kok after the prosecution
decided to drop my case. As you can imagine, my excitement at the news was
beyond description. Anyway, I am home now, and I have the two simplified Bibles
you handed me (Old and New Testament). They were two of the very few things I
brought home from prison with me. I am so glad that during my four months at LCK
I got acquainted with the Lord, and now I am home, I go to church every Sunday. I
cannot thank you enough. I hope to get to see you again some day. Regards
*************
Hero who caught Toronto van rampage suspect is son of
ex-HK officer
Letter
in Chinese from a third young Malaysian Chinese in
prison in HK for drug trafficking - here
(April 24)
Pope
invites religious leaders to Middle East peace summit July 7
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
12. Within these various forms, I would
stress too that the "genius of woman" is seen in feminine styles of
holiness, which are an essential means of reflecting God's holiness in this
world. Indeed, in times when women tended to be most ignored or overlooked, the
Holy Spirit raised up saints whose attractiveness produced new spiritual vigour
and important reforms in the Church. We can mention Saint Hildegard of Bingen,
Saint Bridget, Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint Therese
of Lisieux. But I think too of all those unknown or forgotten women who, each in
her own way, sustained and transformed families and communities by the power of
their witness.
Chris McDonnell
We belong, our belongings
Wherever we move, the tap root of our lives is always rooted in the soil of our
birth place
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Jeremiah
3-6: The country has no rain
because its people have forgotten the Lord. The people refuse to repent
and so the land has many sorrows. Stop and think about the past: which was the
good way to live?
Follow that way now and you will find peace for yourselves and the land.
Lord, please bless our
land - by helping us be better people
Recording
Psalm
2: Why are the nations revolting against God?
Why won't the nations accept God? O kings and rulers of the
nations, listen to God's voice.
Serve the Lord with love and honor. Blessed are the nations that love
the Lord.
Let all the nations love you,
Lord. Let all the nations love you
Recording
Acts 19.1-7: Paul left Corinth and went to the city of
Ephesus where he found a dozen men who had been baptized by John the
Baptist. He asked them "Did you receive the Holy
Spirit when you became believers?" They replied "We have not been taught
about the Holy Spirit". When Paul explained Jesus to them, they were
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Paul then prayed with them using
the laying on of hands, and the Holy Spirit came down on them. They began
to speak in tongues and to prophesy
Holy Spirit, please fall afresh on me
and
increase your influence in my life
Listen
Luke
11.27-32: While Jesus was speaking, a woman in the
crowd called out
"Blessed the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you".
Jesus replied "Even more blessed are
those who hear the word of God and put it into practice!" Jesus also said "On Judgement day, the
Queen of the South will rise up with the people of this generation and
condemn them, because she came from a distant country to hear the wisdom
of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here"
Jesus, greater than Solomon, please help me
put your teaching into practice
Listen
Reflection
on the above Bible readings: As
I think of Mozambique and Southern Africa suffering terribly at the moment from
lack of rain, I can't help thinking that maybe today's reading from Jeremiah
should not be regarded as "pre-weather forecast era" superstition
-----------------------------
Best thing for me to smile about yesterday was delivery to
my home of 3,000 copies of the 8th printing of Dr Jesus (English edition) - full
text is here. Jesus
please bless the kind friends who made this job possible!
--------------------------------------
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 26th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Xinjiang
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 26th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Togo
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Thursday,
please pacify Al-Qaeda
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Wed April 25
Holiday today for Anzac Day (my
2012 article)
Shame HK government, shame!
HK's 'cardboard
grannies' - the elderly box collectors living in poverty
Venezuelan bishops appeal to political leaders to heed their cry
Yesterday I was at Lai Chi Kok men's prison for about six
hours....grateful to learn that this year there have been only three drug mules
(two men and one woman) from the whole of Africa and only one (a man) from the
whole of South America arrested at HK airport for drug trafficking - compared
with previous years when the combined figure for the two continents was so high
..e.g. for the first 4 months of 2013 the combined figure was 33!
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
11. "Each in his or her own way"
the Council says. We should not grow discouraged before examples of holiness
that appear unattainable. There are some testimonies that may prove helpful and
inspiring, but that we are not meant to copy, for that could even lead us astray
from the one specific path that the Lord has in mind for us. The important thing
is that each believer discern his or her own path, that they bring out the very
best of themselves, the most personal gifts that God has placed in their hearts
(cf. 1 Cor 12:7), rather than hopelessly trying to imitate something not
meant for them. We are all called to be witnesses, but there are many actual
ways of bearing witness.[11]
Indeed, when the great mystic, Saint John of the Cross, wrote his Spiritual
Canticle, he preferred to avoid hard and fast rules for all. He explained
that his verses were composed so that everyone could benefit from them "in
his or her own way".[12]
For God's life is communicated "to some in one way and to others in
another".[13]
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
For today's Feast of St. Mark
Mark 14.48-52: Jesus
said to them "Am I a robber that you needed to capture me with swords and
clubs? Day after day I was openly teaching in the Temple". All the apostles
then deserted him and ran away. A young man
who followed Jesus had nothing on but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him,
but he left the cloth in their hands and ran away naked.
My
recording of this reading
Acts 15.36-40: Some
time after this, Paul said to Barnabas "Let's revisit the towns where we
preached the word of the Lord". Barnabas suggested taking John
Mark with them, but Paul opposed this, since
John Mark had deserted them on the previous trip when the situation became
dangerous. After a violent argument, Paul and Barnabas split up. Barnabas went
with John Mark to Cyprus. Silas joined Paul for his next journey.
Recording
Colossians
4.10: Aristarchus, who is here in prison
with me, sends his greetings, and so does Mark,
the cousin of Barnabas. If he comes to you give him a warm welcome.
Recording
1 Peter
5.13: Your sister in Babylon
sends you greetings; so does my son Mark
Recording
Reflection on the above readings: Mark in his youth was good at running ... running away from danger (Gospel and Acts, above). But his feet were eventually right in the danger zone that was Rome. We can also note that not all scholars agree that "Mark" in the above 4 readings is the same person. See Mark the Evangelist
-------------------------------------------------------
10 years ago today: Visit to all centers by members of International Ladies Club of Macau -
Carol, Heather, Jann, Louise, Susie & Penny
------------------------------------------
One serious problem many inmates, especially overseas
inmates, face in detention: the HK prison food is so good, they put on much
weight! Especially around the mid-levels!
--------------------------------------
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 25th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Ningxia
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 25th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Comoros
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)
2018:
My trip to Latin America
March 18, 2018: South China Morning Post report on my work
--------------------
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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