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 15
Top court clears duo over 'prison visit service'
...at my second home - Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre
To prepare for Pentecost (May 20) let's reflect on the Holy Spirit each day this week:
The seal is a symbol close to that of anointing. "The Father has set his seal" on Christ and also seals us in him. Because this seal indicates the indelible effect of the anointing with the Holy Spirit in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders, the image of the seal (sphragis) has been used in some theological traditions to express the indelible "character" imprinted by these three unrepeatable sacraments. - CCC 698
In this week before Pentecost let's often pray each day: Come Holy Spirit, fall afresh on our world!
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
31.
We need a spirit of holiness capable
of filling both our solitude and our service, our personal life and our
evangelizing efforts, so that every moment can be an expression of
self-sacrificing love in the Lord's eyes. In this way, every minute of our lives
can be a step along the path to growth in holiness.
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Jeremiah 37-45: Jeremiah was arrested and put into a muddy well to die.
But a good official persuaded the king to free Jeremiah. When the Chaldaeans captured Jerusalem,
they sent many people to Babylon as exiles. Jeremiah was spared from exile
and he kept trying to get the people to accept defeat as God had told them.
But most of the people would not listen to Jeremiah,
even though all his prophecies about defeat had come true. God protected the good officials who had helped
Jeremiah.
Lord, please help government
leaders be good,
like the good officials who helped Jeremiah.
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
Acts
23.12-22:
The next day about 40 Jews held a meeting. They decided not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. They
asked the religious leaders to arrange another meeting so that they could
attack Paul. But the son of Paul's sister heard of the
plot. He got into the barracks and told Paul. Paul got the boy to tell the
captain. The captain immediately arranged for a large group of soldiers to
take Paul to Caesarea to be tried by Felix the governor. Felix said "I will wait till your
accusers come here too, then I will hear your case"
Jesus, please help people who are in danger of
being murdered
Listen
Luke
18.9-14: Some people prided themselves on being
virtuous, and despised others. Jesus told them this story: Two men went to the Temple to pray, one a
religious leader, the other a social outcast. The leader stood there and said "I thank
you, God, that I am not greedy, unjust and adulterous like other people
such as this outcast here". The outcast did not even raise his eyes, but
beat his breast and said "God, be merciful to me, a sinner". The outcast, I tell you, went home a friend of
God. The leader did not. People who exalt themselves will be humbled.
People who humble themselves will be exalted.
Jesus, be merciful to me, a sinner
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Social outcasts are human outcasts, not Divine outcasts
--------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
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 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, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
-----
Sun May 13 and Mon May 14 accidentally deleted ...groan
---
Sat May 12
The main message I took away from the annual O.M.I. retreat which ended yesterday was "Jesus is with us". If we can be more aware of his presence in our ordinary lives, if we can remember him before/during/after each communication/meeting/encounter, our lives will be blessed with extra peace/wisdom/courage. Jesus, please help me to think of you the next time my phone goes!
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
28. Needless to say, anything done out of
anxiety, pride or the need to impress others will not lead to holiness. We are
challenged to show our commitment in such a way that everything we do has
evangelical meaning and identifies us all the more with Jesus Christ. We often
speak, for example, of the spirituality of the catechist, the spirituality of
the diocesan priesthood, the spirituality of work. For the same reason, in Evangelii
Gaudium I concluded by speaking of a spirituality of mission, in Laudato
Si of an ecological spirituality, and in Amoris
Laetitia of a spirituality of family life.
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Luke
15.11-24:
Jesus told this story: a man had two sons. The younger said
to his father "Father, give me the share of the estate that would
come to me".
So the father divided his property between them.
A few days later, the younger son left for a distant land where he wasted his money in wild living.
When he had used all his money, that country had a severe famine, and he
began to feel the pinch, so he got a job on a farm feeding pigs.
He would willingly have eaten the pigs' food, but
no one offered him anything.
Listen
.jpg)
Then he came to his senses and said "How many of my father's paid
servants have more food than they want, and I am dying of hunger
I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have
sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be
called your son. Treat me as one of your paid servants."
So he left the place and went back to his father.
Listen
.jpg)
While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved
with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him
tenderly. Then the son said "Father, I have sinned against heaven and
against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son".
Listen
.jpg)
But the father said to his servants "Quick! Bring out the best robe
and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it. We are going to
have a feast, a celebration, because this son of mine was dead and has
come back to life. He was lost and is found."
Jesus, please help me understand how much you love me,
no matter what mistakes I make
Listen
.jpg)
Reflection
on the above readings: Like
parents/spouses who visit children/spouses in prison, God loves us, no matter
how many mistakes we make
-------------------------------------
To go with today's Gospel:
.jpg)
--------------------------------------
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 12th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Jiangsu
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 12th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Guinea-Bissau
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
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Fri May 11
Women who have had an abortion should be helped in every way with
great compassion and understanding....and with prayer for healing (e.g. 31).
But before they decide on an abortion, they should not be prevented from
accessing all available information about the side-effects of abortion. For
example, they should know there is a big risk of breast cancer. Some people deny
such a risk - see Wikipedia.
But when you think about it, when a woman becomes pregnant, her body prepares to
have and nurse a baby. Her breasts undergo change. If a baby is aborted, the
material which has gone to the breasts.....what happens to it? Of course the
same is true for a miscarriage, but that is not an artificial attack on the body
and nature maybe heals the body more easily. Is it a surprise that breast
material artificially made redundant might become a breeding ground for cancer?
Matteo Ricci died in
Beijing on this day in 1610. His
life has application today
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
27. Could the Holy Spirit urge us to carry
out a mission and then ask us to abandon it, or not fully engage in it, so as to
preserve our inner peace? Yet there are times when we are tempted to relegate
pastoral engagement or commitment in the world to second place, as if these were
"distractions" along the path to growth in holiness and interior
peace. We can forget that "life does not have a mission, but is a
mission".[27]
-------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Jeremiah 33-35: Most of the people and their leaders ignored God's message
delivered by Jeremiah. But one group listened to Jeremiah and obeyed God's message:
that group was the nomad clan of Rechabites. At God's command Jeremiah invited them to a meal near the
Temple
and invited them to drink wine. But they replied that they had been told by God
never to own property or build houses or be farmers or drink wine. Jeremiah then spoke to the people watching the
Rechabites:
"See how this clan is obedient to the message of the Lord,
unlike most of the people and its leaders who ignore God. Because this clan has been faithful and obedient,
therefore it will always be blessed by the Lord".
Lord, please help me be
faithful to you, like the Rechabites
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
19: The heavens proclaim the glory of God,
the starry skies are the work of his hands. The stars can't speak, but they are
God's handwriting.
The sun is God's love shining on the whole world.
The universe is a masterpiece, and so is God's
law
which shines in our hearts.
The precepts of the Lord
enlighten our lives
each day.
The law of the Lord gives joy and wisdom to our hearts. The decrees of the Lord are to be desired more
than gold,
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. But often we are unaware of our
errors.
Lord, please protect us from making mistakes.
Lord, may the words of my mouth
and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you
Listen
Acts
22.30 - 23.11: To find out why the Jews were attacking Paul,
the captain arranged a meeting of the religious leaders, and allowed Paul
to speak to them. Paul realized that the leaders had two groups:
Sadducees (who didn't believe in angels or an after-life) and Pharisees
(who did believe in angels and an after-life). So Paul called out "I am a Pharisee. It
is for our hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial".
This caused the Pharisees and Sadducees to begin a violent argument that
put Paul's life in danger. The captain ordered Paul to be taken back into
the barracks. The next night, the Lord appeared to him and said
"Courage! You have born witness for me in Jerusalem. Now you must do
the same in Rome"
Jesus, please give courage to Christians who live in
dangerous places
Listen
Luke
17.11-19: On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus entered a village where 10 lepers came
to meet him.
They stood at a distance and called out "Jesus, Master, take pity on us!"
Jesus said to them "Go and show yourselves to the priests".
As they went away, their leprosy disappeared.
Seeing that he was healed, one of them turned back praising God at the
top of his voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him.
This made Jesus say "Were not all 10 healed? Where are the 9 others?"
Jesus, please don't let me forget to say "thank you" when someone helps me
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: The way Paul cleverly split the Pharisees and Sadducees (Acts) is an example of humour in the Bible
----------------------------------------------
To go with today's Gospel:
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
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 11th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Hunan
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 11th of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of Eritrea
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
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--------------------------------------------------------------------
Thu May 10
Today is the second last day of the annual O.M.I. retreat ... being held at
Sheung Shui just near the border with Mainland China. Shenzhen's skyscrapers can
be seen not far away. Each time I come to Sheung Shui I say a few extra prayers
for China. Many years ago.....in the late 1980's...I had some sort of dream that
something really wonderful would happen in China ...on May
10. So, today my
prayers for China will be special indeed!
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
26. It is not healthy to love silence while
fleeing interaction with others, to want peace and quiet while avoiding
activity, to seek prayer while disdaining service. Everything can be accepted
and integrated into our life in this world, and become a part of our path to
holiness. We are called to be contemplatives even in the midst of action, and to
grow in holiness by responsibly and generously carrying out our proper mission.
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Jeremiah
32: Jerusalem was about to be captured by the Chaldaeans.
But God promised that Jerusalem would recover its freedom. As a sign that Jerusalem would be free again,
God told Jeremiah to buy a field. People thought Jeremiah was crazy.
But through this action Jeremiah delivered God's message: This city and this land are now a waste,
but soon people will again buy land and build homes
in freedom and safety.
Lord, when things get really
bad, please increase our trust in you
that you will turn things around in our lives
Recording
Psalm
17-18: Lord, when trouble breaks out on every
side,
please protect and help me. For you are my strength, my rock, my fortress,
my savior.
I love you, Lord who save me because you love me. Lord, you are my lamp who lightens my life.
I will praise you among the nations.
Lord, you are worthy of
all praise
Recording
Acts 22.24-29: Paul was taken into the soldiers' barracks.
The captain ordered Paul to be tortured to find out the truth about his
situation. But when they tied him down, Paul said
"Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen? The captain said "It cost me a lot of
money to acquire Roman citizenship". Paul replied "I was
born a Roman citizen". Paul was untied without being flogged.
Jesus, help people who are being
tortured today
Listen
Luke
16.19-26: Jesus told this story to the people: There was a rich man who used to
dress in expensive clothes and feast magnificently every day.
At his gate there was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who longed to eat scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs
even came and licked his sores.
The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried. In his torment in Hell, the
rich man looked up and saw Abraham a long way off with Lazarus at his
side.
So the rich man cried out "Father Abraham, pity me and send Lazarus to
dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in
agony in these flames".
"My son", replied Abraham, "remember that during your life, good
things came your way, just as bad things came the way of Lazarus. Now
he is being comforted here, while you are in agony"
Jesus, please help me understand how I should do more to help poor people
01
02
Reflection
on the above Bible readings: Some
time ago I heard a true story about three men who were having a meal - not in
Hong Kong - at a Pizza restaurant. They ordered too much food...and were
thinking about getting a "doggy bag" to take some food home, when two
hungry children saw them (they were against a window, next to footpath)....the
children eyed their food. But the men took no notice of the children. The men
took their extra food home. The men were ....priests.
-----------------------------
10 years ago today: Thank you
"Zhaoqing Volunteers' Society" and HK Oblate China Educaton Group for visits and gifts
------------------------------------------
Satan is not a laughing matter, but Pope's imagery is
cool: "Satan
is like a wounded crocodile ...and like a wild dog on a chain...can't harm us
unless we get too close to him"
--------------------------------------
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 10th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Hubei
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 10th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Guinea
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Thursday,
please pacify Al-Qaeda
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Wed May 9
A common topic in HK these days is "the alienation of the
young generation", an alienation which has two major causes: (1) bullying
of HK by Beijing and (2) lack of compassion by the HK government on a range of
issues (.... housing shortage...shortage of hospital beds etc). These two
factors explain why so many young people took to the streets a few years ago in
the "Occupy Central Movement" which began peacefully but unfortunately
got out of hand....and led to violence....for which a group of young people are
currently in court....and if they are harshly treated by the court, the
alienation will increase. Time has come for more wisdom and dialogue rather than
harshness. But the HK government and judiciary are under pressure from Beijing
to "show no mercy" ....which will only intensify the young
generation's alienation. Hong Kong needs a reconciling
Nelson Mandela!
Vatican's
plan to help Venezuelan migrants
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
25. Just as you cannot understand Christ
apart from the kingdom he came to bring, so too your personal mission is
inseparable from the building of that kingdom: "Strive first for the
kingdom of God and his righteousness" (Mt 6:33). Your identification
with Christ and his will involves a commitment to build with him that kingdom of
love, justice and universal peace. Christ himself wants to experience this with
you, in all the efforts and sacrifices that it entails, but also in all the joy
and enrichment it brings. You cannot grow in holiness without committing
yourself, body and soul, to giving your best to this endeavour.
--------------------------------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
"Is
everyone else alright?"
Concern for others is a generosity that carries with it a cost, both in time and
energy
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
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
16: Please protect me, Lord, I take refuge in
you.
You are the only source of all true happiness. I bless you, Lord, who guide and lead me.
Even at night you direct my heart. And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad.
My body shall rest in safety now and always. You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand, happiness for ever.
Thank you, Lord, for the little
joys you give us each day
....and the big joy you've prepared for us in Heaven
Listen
Acts
22.1-23: Paul said to the crowd "I am a Jew, born
in Tarsus. I was brought up here in Jerusalem. I studied under Gamaliel. I
fully observed the Law of our ancestors. I even persecuted this Way to the
death, and sent many people to prison.
But once when I was on my way to Damascus to arrest followers of the Way,
Jesus appeared to me and said 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, and you are
persecuting me'. Then a believer in Damascus told me I was to be Jesus'
witness in many places".
Up to now, the crowd had listened quietly to Paul, but when he said that
Jesus was sending him to non-Jews in far away places, the crowd shouted "Rid the earth of this man! He's not fit to live!"
Jesus, please help Jewish people accept you as
the Anointed One
Listen
Luke
14.12-14: Jesus said to the meal guests "When you
give a lunch or a dinner, do not ask your friends, family, or rich neighbors.
Rather, when you have a party, invite the
poor, the crippled,
the lame, the blind. That they cannot repay you means you are
fortunate,
because repayment will be made to you when the virtuous rise again".
Jesus, help me do more to help poor
people
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: My experience - the happiest parties are those to which the poor are invited. e.g. Oct 2016
-------------------------------------------------------
Because Ben Simons from Australia is in the team, I have
now become a fan of Philadelphia's "76's" ...and
they had a good win yesterday
--------------------------------------
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 9th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Henan
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 9th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Central
African Republic
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
---------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
Tues May 8
This week I am attending the annual in-service Oblate retreat in HK - lead by Fr Louis Studer O.M.I. from the U.S. Including Fr Louis we are a group of 15 ...thinking and praying about how to be better servants of the Gospel and of the poor.
Colombian
vet used puppies as drug mules
My article in today's Ming Pao newspaper has the topic: My mother ...and elderly HK women. It is on Ming Pao website - click "Australian in HK". Text without recording
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
24. May you come to realize what that word is, the message of Jesus
that God wants to speak to the world by your life. Let yourself be transformed.
Let yourself be renewed by the Spirit, so that this can happen, lest you fail in
your precious mission. The Lord will bring it to fulfilment despite your
mistakes and missteps, provided that you do not abandon the path of love but
remain ever open to his supernatural grace, which purifies and enlightens.
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Jeremiah 24-29: For 23 years Jeremiah spoke the message of the Lord,
calling on people to do good and turn away from evil. But the people, especially the leaders, refused to listen to
Jeremiah.
They eventually arrested Jeremiah and planned to kill him. Jeremiah also sent a message to the exiles in Babylon.
But they too refused his message.
Lord, please give me some of
Jeremiah's courage and faith
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
14-15: So many people live and act as if God doesn't exist.
Some foolish people even say there is no God. So many people have left the way of justice and truth.
So many people follow the way of falsehood. Lord, help us to live as we should.
Help us not to slander, help us not to wrong others.
Lord,
help us to stand firm in the
way of goodness
Listen
Acts
21.15-40:
In Jerusalem Paul gave a report to James and
other Christian leaders of all that God had done for non-Jews through his ministry.
But Paul was soon seen by Jews from where he
had traveled. He was dragged out of the Temple and beaten by a wild crowd.
The beating was stopped by a Roman captain who had Paul bound with chains. The crowd was calling out for Paul to be
killed. Paul asked for permission to speak to the
crowd and the captain agreed. Paul then spoke to the crowd in Hebrew.
Jesus, please protect Christians who live in
dangerous places
Listen
Luke
14.7-11: At the leader's house, Jesus noticed how the guests picked the places of
honor.
He said to them "When someone invites you to a meal, do not choose a
seat of honor. Rather, when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place
and sit there. Maybe your host will ask you to move to a seat of honor.
Everyone
who exalts himself, will be humbled. Whoever humbles himself, will be
exalted"
Jesus, please help me choose the lowest place
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: In HK...especially in restaurants, the place of honor is facing the door. Local people put Jesus' words into practice: they always offer that place of honor to seniors etc.
--------------------------------------------------------
Perhaps some HK readers can correct me if I'm wrong, but
it seems that HK people's nickname for Donald Trump is "Trum Trum"?!
--------------------------------------
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 8th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Heilongjiang
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 8th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Sierra Leone
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Mon May 7
Photo
from yesterday's Yum Cha with family after morning Mass (and see
below!)
This week I am attending the annual O.M.I. retreat at Sheung Shui. Will remember all dear readers in my prayers ...and readers are asked to pray for the retreat group.
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
23. This is a powerful
summons to all of us. You too need to see the entirety of your life as a
mission. Try to do so by listening to God in prayer and recognizing the signs
that he gives you. Always ask the Spirit what Jesus expects from you at every
moment of your life and in every decision you must make, so as to discern its
place in the mission you have received. Allow the Spirit to forge in you the
personal mystery that can reflect Jesus Christ in today's world.
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Jeremiah
21-23: Jerusalem was under siege by the Chaldaeans.
The Lord told Jeremiah to tell the leaders of Jerusalem to surrender. But the leaders of Jerusalem did not obey Jeremiah's words.
So the Lord got Jeremiah to say these words:
"Woe to the shepherds who allow my sheep to be scattered and killed.
You have not taken care of my sheep. Therefore I will raise up a leader who will be wise and just.
He will be a good shepherd of my people."
Lord, please help our leaders
to be good shepherds
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
9-13: I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart.
You have so often rescued me from trouble. Thank you! You are the best helper for people in trouble.
Please keep on helping me when troubles come. Please stop bad people from hurting others.
Please let peoples in all countries know they must avoid evil and live a
life of justice.
Dear Lord, thank you for
so often rescuing me
Listen
Acts
21.1-14: Our sea voyage took us to the city of
Caesarea. A prophet there took Paul's belt and used it to tie up his own
feet and hands,
as a sign of what would happen to Paul in Jerusalem. Everyone implored Paul not to go to
Jerusalem.
Paul replied "I am ready not only to be tied up,
but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus". And so we packed up and headed for Jerusalem.
Jesus, please give me a bit of Paul's courage
Listen
Luke
14.1-6: One Sabbath day Jesus went for a meal to the house of a religious leader. In
the house Jesus saw a man with dropsy.
Jesus asked the leaders present there "Is it against the Law to cure a man on the
Sabbath?" But they remained silent.
Jesus took the man, healed him, and sent him away.
Then Jesus said to the leaders "Which of you here, if his son falls into a
well, will not pull him out on a Sabbath day?"
Again the leaders
remained silent
Jesus, help me understand that "the Sabbath was made for man, not
man for the Sabbath"
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: "Dropsy" is a old medical term ...used by Luke, a doctor. The same Luke who was with Paul on the way to Jerusalem. For me, Luke's writings are especially trustworthy, written by a down-to-earth practical person who himself experienced great suffering (e.g. shipwreck) for the sake of the Gospel
--------------------------------------------------------
Dorothea
(8 year old in yesterday's photo, at top of this menu) had sore ribs (so to
speak) after my homily yesterday morning. During the homily, as she sat between
her mother and father, both of them used their arms to dig her in the ribs as
one certain idea was mentioned in the homily. She got the ... point!
--------------------------------------
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 7th of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Hebei
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 7th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Burkina
Faso
And praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sun May 6
I came across this yesterday - about life in Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre some
years ago. Interesting info about drug trafficking! - Hell
in HK. 134 days of torture (maybe article is a bit exaggerated ....but
the drug info is quite believable)
Letter in Spanish from an Argentinian man in prison in HK for
drug trafficking - here
(May 1)
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
22. To recognize the word
that the Lord wishes to speak to us through one of his saints, we do not need to
get caught up in details, for there we might also encounter mistakes and
failures. Not everything a saint says is completely faithful to the Gospel; not
everything he or she does is authentic or perfect. What we need to contemplate
is the totality of their life, their entire journey of growth in holiness, the
reflection of Jesus Christ that emerges when we grasp their overall meaning as a
person.[26]
-----------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Easter 6
Acts 10.1-48: Cornelius was a Roman centurion stationed in
the town of Caesarea.
He and his household prayed, loved God, and helped the local people. One morning Cornelius had a vision that Peter
would visit him.
In another town, Peter was instructed by the Lord to visit Cornelius. Peter preached God's message to Cornelius and
his household.
While Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit came down on all the listeners. Jewish believers who had accompanied
Peter were astonished
that the Holy Spirit would come down on non-Jewish people
Holy Spirit, please come down on all peoples
everywhere!
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
98: Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked
wonders.
His right hand has brought salvation. The Lord has made known his salvation.
He has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love for the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the
salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord all the earth, ring out your joy. Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp,
with the sound of music. Let the sea, the world and all peoples
acclaim the King, the Lord. Let the rivers clap their hands
and the hills ring out their joy at the presence of the Lord, for he comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with fairness.
Lord,
may all peoples in all countries know your love and goodness
Listen
1
John 4.7-16:
Let us love one another.
Love comes from God.
God is love. God showed his love for us
by sending his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Since God has loved us so much
we should love one another. God is love.
Anyone who lives in love, lives in God,
and God lives in him
Jesus, you are love itself. May I
live
in your love
Listen
John
15.9-13: At the meal, Jesus said to his disciples
"As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love
by keeping my commandments, especially this commandment:
love one another, as I
have loved you. A man can have no greater love than to lay
down his life for his friends".
Jesus, thank you for loving us. Help us
to love one another as you have loved us
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings:
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian with English, Chinese and
Spanish subtitles
Daniel Daring: LOVE (in Chinese)
--------------------------------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------------------
My
football team in Australia - The Brisbane Lions - has not yet won a game this
season ....six straight losses. This afternoon they play the Melbourne Magpies
who are expected to defeat the Lions easily. And to make matters worse....at
last night's Mass at Yau Ma Tei, the president of the parish council was wearing
a black and white Collingwood style shirt!
--------------------------------------
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 6th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Hainan
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 6th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Liberia
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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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This website was launched in construction
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Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡
頌 恆 神 父
jdwomi@gmail.com
HK
mobile +852- 67095674
China
mobile +86-13828421861 - (only
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