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
Name
& shame
Tues July 31
I spent yesterday "at the office", catching up on mail/email, working
on the "name & shame" Drug Lord project .... and taking/making
numerous phone calls to go with the said project. Everyone agrees it's a project
for the authorities, but the authorities are not active .... as people keep
going to prison because of the Drug Lords .... so ....if I can make a
"loaves and fishes" offering ... maybe some BIG FISH might be
eventually be stopped by the LOAFS who work for Customs/police!
Notice the anemic government response:
'Six percent of migrants to HK in forced labour'
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
106. Here I think of Saint Thomas Aquinas,
who asked which actions of ours are noblest, which
external works best show our love for God. Thomas answered unhesitatingly
that they are the works of mercy towards
our neighbour,[92]
even more than our acts of worship: "We worship God by outward
sacrifices and gifts, not for his own benefit, but for that of ourselves and our
neighbour. For he does not need our sacrifices, but wishes them to be offered to
him, in order to stir our devotion and to profit our neighbour. Hence mercy,
whereby we supply others' defects, is a sacrifice more acceptable to him, as
conducing more directly to our neighbour's well-being".[93]
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Genesis 43: The famine continued
and so Jacob sent his sons back to Egypt to buy more grain.
This time Benjamin went with them,
even though Jacob worried greatly about his safety.
When the brothers arrived in Egypt
Joseph invited them to his home for a meal.
Simeon was allowed to join them.
The brothers still didn't recognize Joseph.
Joseph was moved when he saw Benjamin, his full blood brother.
Joseph left the company and cried for quite some time.
When Joseph rejoined the meal
he gave the brothers a hearty meal which they all enjoyed.
Joseph arranged that Benjamin's portion was extra large.
Dear God, please bless all
missing persons
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
114-115: When Israel came out of Egypt,
Jacob's descendents from an alien people, Judah became the Lord's temple,
Israel became his kingdom. Descendents of Israel, trust in the Lord.
He is our help and our shield. To you may the Lord grant increase,
to you and all your children. May you be blessed by the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.
Thank you, Lord, for all your
blessings
Listen
1 Corinthians
10-11
(For today's Feast of St
Ignatius Loyola): The cup that we bless is a communion with the
blood of Christ.
The bread that we break is a communion with the body of Christ. Avoid anything to do with idol worship.
It doesn't make sense to share in the table of the Lord and in the table
of demons. Whatever you eat, whatever you drink, whatever
you do at all,
do it for the glory of God. Never do anything offensive to anyone. Try to
be helpful to everyone at all times, not anxious for your own advantage,
but for the advantage of others, so that they may be saved. Take me for your model, as I take Christ
Jesus, please help me imitate you in my daily
life
Listen
John
10.11-14:
Jesus said to the religious leaders "I am
the Good Shepherd.
The Good Shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep. A hired man, since he has no real concern for
the sheep,
abandons them and runs away if he sees a wolf coming. I am the Good Shepherd.
I know my own sheep, and my own sheep know me".
Jesus, Good Shepherd, please help me to be a
good sheep, and a good shepherd
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings: Famous
quotations from St Ignatius Loyola
--------------------------------------------------------
10 years ago today: Volunteer
team from St Lawrence Parish in Macau - activities at Marco Polo, Xinxing
& Yunfu + new classroom block & roof sprinkers
------------------------------------------
HK new cross-border rail station is due to be opened before
the end of the year. It's only 10 minutes walk from my home .... and its
surrounding area promises to be a good place for future walks ...
so long as one doesn't get arrested by the authorities from Mainland China who
will be in control of part of the station!
--------------------------------------
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 31st
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Tianjin
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 31st of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Nepal
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Mon July 30
South
China Morning Post:
Beware drug lords luring domestic helpers, refugees into narcotics trade
Prison chaplain wages war on criminals taking advantage of vulnerable
communities in city to traffic drugs, and calls for more awareness on issue
Report in yesterday's HK Chinese Catholic paper the Kung Kao Po
about work of MercyHK on Cheung Chau Island.
On line copy here. Hardcopy here
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
105. Similarly, the
best way to discern if our prayer is authentic is to judge to what extent
our life is being transformed in the light of mercy. For "mercy is not only
an action of the Father; it becomes a criterion for ascertaining who his true
children are".[88]
Mercy "is the very foundation of the Church's life".[89]
In this regard, I would like to reiterate that mercy does not exclude justice
and truth; indeed, "we have to say that mercy is the fullness of justice
and the most radiant manifestation of God's truth".[90]
It is "the key to heaven".[91]
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Genesis
42: In Joseph's home
country of Canaan,
the famine was very severe.
Joseph's father Jacob said to his sons
"I hear there is grain for sale in Egypt.
Go to Egypt and buy grain
for our families
so that we will not die".
All Joseph's brothers, except Benjamin, went to Egypt
and arrived at the place where Joseph was selling grain.
The brothers had not seen Joseph for about 20 years
and they didn't recognize him. But Joseph recognized them.
Joseph put them to the test: he said they were spies,
and he told them to bring Benjamin to Egypt
to prove they were not spies.
He kept Simeon in prison until they returned with Benjamin.
Dear God, please help any
places in the world which are suffering from famine
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
113: Praise, O friends of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord. May the name of the Lord be blessed
both now and for evermore. From the rising of the sun to its setting
praised be the name of the Lord. Who is like the Lord our God,
above the heavens his glory. From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
to put them in the company of royalty. To the childless wife he gives a home
and gladdens her heart with children.
May the Lord be praised from
sunrise to sunset
Listen
2
Corinthians 1.19-20: The Son of God, Christ Jesus, was not
sometimes "Yes" and sometimes "No" in his words and
actions. He was always crystal clear "Yes" - you knew exactly
where he stood on every issue. That is why it is "through him" that
we pray and then answer "Amen" (= "yes")
Jesus, help me be a committed "Yes"
person - not someone
who "sits on the fence" about the important issues of life
Listen
John
10.1-10: Jesus said to the religious leaders "I
am the gate of the sheepfold. If anyone enters the sheepfold by some other
means than the gate, that person is a thief. The person who enters by the gate is the
shepherd of the flock. The sheep hear his voice as he calls each one by
name and leads them out of the sheepfold. When he has brought them out, he goes ahead of
them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. The thief comes only to steal and kill and
destroy. I have come so that people may have life, not just now but for
ever"
Jesus, Good Shepherd, please help more and
more people hear your voice and follow you
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Bad leaders are thieves who want to steal and kill and destroy ... Jesus doesn't "pull any punches"
--------------------------------------------------------
At my second Mass yesterday morning at Yau Ma Tei, when I was
helped during my sermon by a group of children ... thinking about the Gospel
story of Jesus multiplying loaves and fish ...we got the essential message down
to Jesus making a McDonald's Fillet of Fish for the crowds. Doesn't sound so
good in English. In Chinese it's "fish-bread-burger"!
--------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sun July 29
This is good:
The
Church we seek: A Letter from Chile
Letter
in English from a local HK woman in prison for drug trafficking - here
(July 21)
Uneasy
truce between Church & State challenges integrity of Catholics, but what
choice do they have?
During breakfast over the past week I watched this video - has much interesting
info:
Jay Smith - Authority of
the Bible
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad": The
worship most acceptable to God:
104. We may think that we give glory to God
only by our worship and prayer, or simply by following certain ethical norms. It
is true that the primacy belongs to our relationship with God, but we cannot
forget that the ultimate criterion on
which our lives will be judged is what we have done for others. Prayer is
most precious, for it nourishes a daily commitment to love. Our worship becomes
pleasing to God when we devote ourselves to living generously, and allow God's
gift, granted in prayer, to be shown in our concern for our brothers and
sisters.
-----------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Sunday 17
2 Kings 4:
A poor widow whose husband had been a
prophet asked Elisha for help when a creditor demanded her two sons
as slaves. All she had was a small pot of oil, not enough
to pay her debts.
Elisha told her to get many jars,
and start pouring oil from the pot into the jars. As she and her sons did this, the oil did not
run out.
Elisha told her to sell the oil to pay off her debts. At another time Elisha brought back to
life a dead child. He also once brought about a miraculous
multiplication of bread.
Dear God, you once worked
miracles by the prayers of Elisha.
Please let miracles be done in our day.
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
145: I will give you glory, O God my king.
I will bless your name day after day. The Lord is great, worthy of all praise.
His greatness cannot be measured. Age to age shall proclaim your works,
shall speak of your splendor and glory. The Lord is kind and full of compassion,
slow to anger, abounding in love. How good is the Lord to all,
compassionate to all his creatures. All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,
and tell all the world of your love. The Lord is faithful in all his words
and loving in all his deeds. The Lord supports all who fall
and raises all who are bowed down. The eyes of all creatures look to you
and you give them their food each
day. The Lord is close to all who call him,
who call on him from their hearts. Let the whole world bless the Lord's holy
name,
for ever, for ages unending.
Thank you, Lord, for your love.
Thank you for your love
Listen
Ephesians
4.1-16:
I implore you to lead a life worthy of your
vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete
selflessness, gentleness and patience. If we live by the truth and in love, we shall
become more and more like Christ. We are parts of the Body of Christ. Christ is
the head. Each part must do its bit to keep the Body healthy and growing
in love
Jesus, help me understand how the Church is
your Body
Listen
John
6.1-15: Near the Sea of Galilee, a large crowd
followed Jesus, attracted by the way he healed so many sick people. Jesus climbed a hillside and
sat there with his disciples. Seeing the huge crowd, Jesus said to one of
his disciples "How can we feed so many people?" The disciple Andrew said "There's a young boy here with 5
loaves and 2 fish. But what good is that for such a huge crowd?" Jesus said "Make the people sit down". The crowd of about
20,000 sat down on the grass. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave them out to all
the people. He did the same with the fish. Everyone ate as much as they
wanted to. The people, seeing this miracle, said "He really is God's great
prophet". Jesus, aware that they wanted to make him
king, slipped away and went up the hill by himself.
Jesus, please bless my prayers and actions to
help others,
just as you blessed the loaves and fish
Listen 01 02
A
prayer before meals - based on today's Gospel:
Unseen Guest at every meal
You who multiplied loaves and fish.
May our hearts your presence feel
as we pray you bless each dish
Video commentary on today's readings - in Italian, Chinese, English, and Spanish
Daniel Daring: Gathering into one (Chinese text)
--------------------------------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------------------
My
new Visa card was in the mail I collected from the post office last night on the
way to Yau Ma Tei 7.30 Mass where the Gospel was about five loaves and two fish.
What can you see on Visa card?!
--------------------------------------
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sat July 28
Yesterday's South China Morning Post re Li
Dan Dan:
Chinese single mum found not guilty of drug trafficking by
HK court
I am fortunate to know several kind pilots who
support my anti-drug campaign and my work for the poor. One of them recently
"went an extra mile". After being unable to help me get Spanish Bibles
(for prisoners) through a certain Bible society, he applied for a flight to
Spain where he was able to obtain a large supply of Bibles ... which he kindly
delivered to me yesterday afternoon.
God bless this kind pilot, his family and his aircraft!
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
103. A similar approach is
found in the Old Testament: "You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him,
for you yourselves were strangers in the land of Egypt" (Ex 22:21).
"When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress him.
The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; and
you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of
Egypt" (Lev 19:33-34). This
is not a notion invented by some Pope, or a momentary fad. In today's
world too, we are called to follow the path of spiritual wisdom proposed by the
prophet Isaiah to show what is pleasing to God. "Is it not to share your
bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see
the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your
light shall break forth like the dawn" (58:7-8).
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Genesis
41: Two years later
Pharaoh had a dream:
he was standing by the river Nile
and saw 7 healthy cows feeding on the riverside.
Then he saw 7 sickly cows which ate the 7 healthy cows.
Pharaoh woke,
then had a second dream when he went back to sleep:
7 rich ears of corn on one stalk, followed by 7 withered ears
which ate the 7 rich ears.
None of Pharaoh's wise men could interpret the dreams.
Then the cup-bearer told Pharaoh
how Joseph could understand dreams.
Pharaoh sent for Joseph
and Joseph told Pharaoh the meaning of his dreams:
the 7 healthy cows and 7 rich ears meant 7 good years for Egypt;
the 7 sickly cows and 7 withered ears meant 7 years of famine.
Joseph also told Pharaoh what to do:
use a tax to collect one fifth of all grain in the 7 good years;
then during the 7 years of famine use the collected grain to feed Egypt.
Pharaoh and his ministers were so impressed by Joseph's wisdom
that Pharaoh made Joseph governor of the whole of Egypt,
second only to Pharaoh himself.
Pharaoh gave Joseph Asenath, a priest's daughter, as his wife.
Joseph was now 30 years old, having spent more than 10 years in Egypt.
For the next 7 years Joseph traveled all over Egypt,
supervising the collection of grain.
Before the famine began,
Joseph and Asenath had two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim.
When the famine began, Pharaoh told the Egyptians
"Go to Joseph and do what he tells you".
People from all over Egypt and from other countries
went to Joseph to buy grain during the famine.
Dear
God, thank you for turning things around in Joseph's life
My
recording of this reading 01 02
Psalm
113: Praise, O friends of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord. May the name of the Lord be blessed
both now and for evermore. From the rising of the sun to its setting
praised be the name of the Lord. Who is like the Lord our God,
above the heavens his glory. From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
to put them in the company of royalty. To the childless wife he gives a home
and gladdens her heart with children.
May the Lord be praised from
sunrise to sunset
Listen
2 Corinthians
1.1-10: From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle
of Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, one of the brothers, to the church of
God at Corinth. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ,
a gentle Father and the God of all consolation. He comforts us in all our
sorrows so that we can comfort others in their sorrows. The recent persecutions I experienced made me
think I would not survive. This has taught me to rely not on myself but
only on God for help. God saved me from being killed. My hope is he
will continue to save me.
Jesus, please help people who are in danger of
being killed today
Listen
John
9.1-33: Once when Jesus was walking along the road,
he saw a man who had been blind from birth. Jesus spat on the ground and made some mud
with the spittle. He put the mud on the man's eyes, and said
"Go and wash in the Siloam Pool". The blind man went and washed, and came away
able to see. When the blind man heard people criticize
Jesus, he said "Ever since the world began, it has never been
recorded that someone opened the eyes of a man born blind. This man must be from God"
Jesus, please heal my blind friend ....(name)
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings:
This 6 min video is good: Jesus
heals a blind man
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today: Visit to poor areas
by "Wo Jai Brings Hope Group" from St Margaret's Parish in HK + HK Margaret & HK Magdalene at Marco Polo
------------------------------------------
One newly arrived foreign prisoner told me he was a
Catholic for decades....even "did charity work with Mother Teresa's
sisters"... but when I said the Our Father and Hail Mary with him he didn't
know the Hail Mary ... ???
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid: 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
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Fri July 27
God is Good! Li Dan Dan acquitted by High Court jury
7-0 yesterday - photos and videos here.
Maybe today's South China Morning Post will have a report on this story.
Hopefully this decision will help some sentenced prisoners to make legal appeals
... since they were in the same situation as Li Dan Dan but did not have enough
evidence to prove their innocence.
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
102. We often hear it said
that, with respect to relativism and the flaws of our present world, the
situation of migrants, for example, is a lesser issue. Some Catholics consider
it a secondary issue compared to the "grave" bioethical questions. That
a politician looking for votes might say such a thing is understandable, but not
a Christian, for whom the only proper attitude is to stand in the shoes of those
brothers and sisters of ours who risk their lives to offer a future to their
children. Can we not realize that this is exactly what Jesus demands of
us, when he tells us that in welcoming the stranger we welcome him (cf. Mt
25:35)? Saint Benedict did so readily, and though it might have
"complicated" the life of his monks, he ordered that all
guests who knocked at the monastery door be welcomed "like Christ",[85]
with a gesture of veneration;[86]
the poor and pilgrims were to be met with "the greatest care and
solicitude".[87]
July: month of the Precious Blood of Jesus
-------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Genesis 40: Even in jail, God
protected Joseph.
When two of Pharaoh's officials,
his cup-bearer and his baker
also were put in jail,
Joseph was able to interpret dreams they had.
The cup-bearer dreamt he picked grapes
and made wine for Pharaoh's cup.
Joseph told him the meaning of his dream:
in three days he'd be free
and back at work as Pharaoh's cup-bearer.
The baker dreamt that birds ate bread from a tray on top of his head.
Joseph told him:
"In three days you'll be hanged, and birds will eat your flesh."
And so it happened as Joseph had said:
on the third day
the cup-bearer went back to work in Pharaoh's palace
while the baker was hanged.
Joseph asked the cup-bearer to help him get out of jail,
but when the cup-bearer was free, he forgot about Joseph.
Dear God, please
bless everyone who has ever helped me
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
112: Happy are people who love and honor the Lord,
who take delight in his commands.
The children of such people will be blessed. Such people are a light in the darkness for
others.
Such people are generous, merciful and just. They take pity and help those in need.
They conduct their affairs with integrity. Open-handed they give to the poor.
Their justice and goodness will never be forgotten.
Lord, please help me do more
for the poor
Listen
1
Corinthians 16.5-24:
I hope to visit you after I have been to
Macedonia.
I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost,
because an important door
has opened for my work, despite
opposition. Be brave and strong. Let everything be done in
love. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you
Jesus, help me be brave and strong, like Paul
Listen
John
8: Jesus said to the people "If God were your father, you would
love me, since I have come from God and I speak the truth. You avoid the
truth, because your father is the father of lies, the Devil. Abraham rejoiced at the thought of my coming. He saw it in the
future and was glad". The people said "You are not yet 50 years old. How could you
have seen Abraham?" Jesus replied "I tell you, before Abraham
ever was, I Am". The people then picked up stones to throw at Jesus for claiming to
be God. But Jesus safely left the Temple.
Jesus, you who existed as God the Son from all
eternity, please increase my love for the truth, and help me avoid lies
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: Truth is associated with Jesus who said "I AM the Truth". Lies are associated with Satan who is called "the father of lies". Each of us must do all we can to side with Jesus, and avoid all forms of dishonesty.
----------------------------------------------
10 years ago today: Visit
to Marco Polo Center by Youth Group from HK Resurrection Parish
------------------------------------------
After all my work to help Li Dan Dan - two trips to
Guangzhou and two trips to Kuala Lumpur (not just for her, but also for
others) - I was so relieved at yesterday's 7-0 jury decision acquitting Li Dan
Dan that I experienced the sort of joy which is so deep it's accompanied by
tears!
--------------------------------------
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Thu July 26
Yesterday I uploaded a few more files for my "name and shame" folder. See especially the very last item ("P") of this link which has a PDF file that shows the need for the "name and shame" project.
LGBTQ
take-over of St Patrick's Day Parade in Boston
Today is the Feast of Saint Anne,
the grandmother of Jesus. Many sick people have been healed at this famous
church in her honour in Canada: St
Anne de Beaupre. Which
explains all the crutches here:
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
101. The other harmful ideological error is
found in those who find suspect the social engagement of others, seeing it as
superficial, worldly, secular, materialist, communist or populist. Or they
relativize it, as if there are other more important matters, or the only thing
that counts is one particular ethical issue or cause that they themselves
defend. Our defence of the unborn,
for example, needs to be clear, firm and passionate, for at stake is the dignity
of a human life, which is always sacred and demands love for each person,
regardless of his or her stage of development. Equally
sacred, however, are the lives of the poor, those already born, the
destitute, the abandoned and the underprivileged, the vulnerable infirm and
elderly exposed to covert euthanasia, the victims of human trafficking, new
forms of slavery, and every form of rejection.[84]
We cannot uphold an ideal of holiness
that would ignore injustice in a world where some revel, spend with
abandon and live only for the latest consumer goods, even as others look on from
afar, living their entire lives in abject poverty.
--------------------------------------------------------
The Book Blog: 4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Genesis 39:
The slave traders took
Joseph to Egypt
and sold him to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's top officials.
God was with Joseph.
God blessed everything Joseph did.
Because Joseph did everything so well
Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household and all his possessions.
Because of Joseph, God blessed Potiphar and all his interests.
Potiphar's wife tried to seduce Joseph who was very handsome.
But day after day Joseph refused to sleep with her.
Then one day when Joseph again refused her
she tore his clothes and started screaming.
She claimed Joseph had tried to seduce her.
Potiphar believed his wife and he put Joseph in jail.
Dear God, please
don't let me cause other people to do wrong
Recording
Psalm 111: I will thank the Lord with all my heart.
Great are the works of the Lord,
to be pondered by all who love him. His goodness stands firm for ever.
The Lord is compassion and love. His precepts are for all peoples and all
times.
He is to be honored by all nations. To love and honor the Lord
is the beginning of wisdom.
Dear Lord, please help me to
love and honor you every day
Recording
1 Corinthians 15.54-58:
When this mortal nature has put on immortality, then
the words of Scripture will come true: "Death has been defeated.
Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?" Never give up, dear friends, never admit
defeat. Keep on working at the Lord's work always. Know that, in the Lord,
no work is in vain.
Jesus, please give me more faith to "keep going"
Listen
("Death, where is your victory?")
John 8: Jesus said to the people "I am the light
of the world. Those who follow me will not walk in the dark. They will
have the light of life. If you take my words to heart, you will be my
disciples.
You will learn the truth, and the truth will set you free".
Jesus, give light to my life. Increase my love for your teaching. Help me learn more about truth
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: "The truth will set you free" (today's Gospel) ... what beautiful and appropriate words for a case I'm due to attend at the High Court this morning .... hoping and praying that a woman from China who was deceived by a Nigerian man to carry drugs to HK will be acquitted. Please God! (Story - here - woman is "B")
-----------------------------
Yesterday
I had a lunch meeting with a journalist who is preparing a story on the
anti-drug campaign. Aim of all the publicity is to get some action from HK
police and Customs to take on the Big Fish who keep putting drugs on the streets
and little fish in prison. As is the case for most institutions in the world -
including the Church - the HK authorities respond to only one stimulant: media
publicity
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Mon:
Tues:
Wed:
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid:
Sat:
Cent,
Jesus,
today, Thursday,
please bless
the people of
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
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
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the
week:
Jesus, today, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Wed July 25
Yesterday I met a Nigerian man recently released from detention after 20 years! He looked so well and happy I didn't recognise him at first. He hopes to return to Nigeria soon. For me one of the greatest pleasures is to meet people who have been released from detention. Two days ago I met two other men out recently after 8 years each. I have offered help to all three of these brothers and ask God to bless them!
Imagine if Vatican had barbaric regulations like
these in Saudi Arabia!
From
Australian govt: Haj travel advice
Venezuela
inflation could top 1 million percent by year's end!
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
Ideologies
striking at the heart of the Gospel
100. I regret
that ideologies lead us at times to two harmful errors. On the one hand, there
is the error of those Christians who separate these Gospel demands from their
personal relationship with the Lord, from their interior union with him, from
openness to his grace. Christianity thus
becomes a sort of NGO stripped of the luminous mysticism so evident in
the lives of Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Teresa of
Calcutta, and many others. For these great saints, mental prayer, the love of
God and the reading of the Gospel in no way detracted from their passionate and
effective commitment to their neighbours; quite the opposite.
--------------------------------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
Remaining faithful
Being alongside someone is about remaining faithful
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Genesis 38: Jacob's son Judah had
three sons - Er, Onan and Shelah.
Er married Tamar,
but not long after the wedding, Er died.
So, according to custom, Judah asked Onan to marry Tamar
and have a child for his brother.
But Onan spilt his seed each time he slept with Tamar,
so Tamar did not conceive.
Judah then said to Tamar "Wait till Shelah grows up,
and you can marry him."
But when Shelah was older,
he still hadn't been given to Tamar.
So Tamar tricked her father-in-law Judah.
She dressed as a prostitute
and conceived a baby by Judah.
Judah did not know that the woman was Tamar;
her face was covered.
Three months later Judah was told that his daughter-in-law
was pregnant after acting as a prostitute.
Judah followed the harsh local custom and said
"Take her outside and burn her."
But Tamar produced Judah's seal, stick and cord
which he had given to her as a pledge when he had sex with her.
So Judah admitted his guilt and freed Tamar
who gave birth to twin boys.
Dear God, please
help married people to be happy
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
109-110: O God whom I praise,
do not be silent,
for people are bombarding me with words of hate. They speak to me with
lying tongues
and attack me without cause. They repay me evil for
good.
While I pray for them, they show me hatred. I have become an object
of scorn.
Help me, Lord my God.
Lord,
when people are unkind to me, please give me the grace to pray for them
Listen
Acts
12.1-17 (for Feast of St
James): About
this time, King Herod began persecuting the church. He
beheaded the apostle James, brother of John. He
arrested Peter during Passover time. He put Peter in prison and planned to have
him put on trial and killed after Passover. Each day Peter was in prison, the
believers stormed heaven praying for him. On the night before he was to be put
on trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with chains, with
more soldiers at the prison entrance. Suddenly Peter's cell was filled with
light, and an angel told him to get up. The chains fell from his hands. The
angel led Peter out of the prison, without the guards knowing what was
happening. Peter then left for another place. Herod was unable to find him.
Jesus, please help Christians who are in prison
for their faith
Matthew
20.20-28 (for
Feast of St James):
The brothers
James
and John were two of Jesus'
disciples.
One day their mother said to Jesus
"When you become king, allow my sons to sit at your right and
left". Jesus said to James
and John
"Only my Father in heaven can allocate seats on my right and
left". The 10 other disciples were angry
at James and John for seeking honor. So Jesus said to them all
"In most places, people in power like to dominate and control others.
But this is not to be your way of exercising authority. You must exercise authority by
serving others, not dominating them,
just as I came not to be served, but to serve,
and to give my life as a ransom for the world".
Jesus, please help me want to help and serve
other people,
not dominate and control them
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Today a big day in Santiago
-------------------------------------------------------
10 years ago today: Thank you Lyall and Carolyn for making special trip from Guangzhou to
Zhaoqing - just to visit our Marco Polo Center
------------------------------------------
Yesterday morning when I went to McDonald's for some Green
Tea I used a social media program for the first time to pay the bill.
Complicated transaction went through but good old Octopus card will do me any
day for simplicity!
--------------------------------------
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
---------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
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
|
On revolving map: Left click bottom right silver button Left click country Left click state/province ....till you find your city/town ! |
|
Left click this table of flags for details of hits on this main page
|
This website was launched in construction
mode in Hong Kong on November 20, 2011 - the Feast of Christ
the King.
The official launching
was
held on the Gold Coast, Australia, on January 20,
2012.
Map and Flag Counter began Feb 11, 2012. Previous visits 4,932.
Note: counter on this page + Map & Flag Counter record visits only to this
main/index page.
Visits to other pages and to Facebook page are not
recorded.
This site's 2017
statistics.
Thank you for checking this website each day. God bless all readers and bloggers!
Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡
頌 恆 神 父
jdwomi@gmail.com
HK
mobile +852- 67095674
China
mobile +86-13828421861 - (only
when in China)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ .