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 Aug 28
My name is mentioned a few times in this
Court of Appeal judgment concerning an Indonesian woman sentenced for drug
trafficking .... set up by this
guy
Video
of Pope's Mass at Phoenix Park in Dublin
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
157. Meeting Jesus in the Scriptures leads us to the Eucharist, where
the written word attains its greatest efficacy, for there the living Word is
truly present. In the Eucharist, the one true God receives the greatest worship
the world can give him, for it is Christ himself who is offered. When we receive
him in Holy Communion, we renew our covenant with him and allow him to carry out
ever more fully his work of transforming our lives.
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The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Exodus 18: Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, heard about
all
that God had done for Moses and the Israelites,
so he visited Moses in the desert.
Jethro saw that Moses was struggling
to do so much administration by himself.
Jethro suggested that Moses appoint men to help him:
leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.
Moses accepted this advice
and appointed judges as Jethro suggested.
These judges handled all small issues
and referred only difficult cases to Moses.
Dear
God, please make us willing to share responsibilities with other people
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
140-143: Lord, save me from
people who do evil,
you who do justice for the needy. I have no way out of
this situation.
And no one wants to help me. Lord, I beg you tonight
to make haste and give me an answer, for my spirit fails within me.
In the morning let me know your love
for I put my trust in you.
Lord, please help people who
are in big trouble
Listen
Ephesians
1.16-18: I never fail to remember you in my prayers
and to thank God for you. May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of glory,
give you more and more wisdom and knowledge
to see ever more clearly his great love for you. May he enlighten your mind to hope for the
glorious life
he has prepared for us in heaven
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, may I see you
more clearly,
love you more dearly, follow you more nearly, day by day
Listen
John
18.15-27: The main religious leader interrogated
Jesus about his teaching. Jesus told him "I have spoken openly in
prayer halls and in the Temple. I have said nothing in secret. The people
can tell you what I said". At these words, one of the guards slapped
Jesus in the face, saying "Don't speak to the leader like that".
Jesus replied "If I said something wrong, point it
out. But if there was nothing wrong with my words, why did you hit
me?" Meanwhile Peter was outside in the courtyard,
keeping warm by a fire. Three times he was asked by different people if he
was a disciple of Jesus. Three times he replied "I am not".
After his third denial, a rooster crowed
Jesus, on trial before the leaders, please
bless everyone on trial today, in every country
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: When I read today's Gospel I thought about Jesus' words "if they hit you on one side of the face, turn the other cheek" ... which Jesus didn't do. The phrase "turn the other cheek" is not to be taken literally ... it does not mean "no self-defence". If someone bursts into your house and starts attacking your family, self-defence is obviously necessary.
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10 years ago today: Renovations;
HK Sr Stella & Mrs Zhong; Ricci Centre moving to Marco Polo Centre
------------------------------------------
This
report says there's a horse in US called "Catholic Boy" whose
mother was "Song of Bernadette"
--------------------------------------
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 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, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
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Mon Aug 27
Pope's visit to Ireland - reports and texts here
Before bed last night, I was following this live blog of the Pope in Ireland
To coincide with Pope's visit to Family Congress in Ireland, I have re-launched FB: Familyhk - to promote family values and to oppose anti-family forces.
-------
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
156. The prayerful reading of
God's word, which is "sweeter than honey" (Ps 119:103) yet a
"two-edged sword" (Heb 4:12), enables us to pause and listen to
the voice of the Master. It becomes a lamp for our steps and a light for our
path (cf. Ps 119:105). As the bishops of India have reminded us,
"devotion to the word of God is not simply one of many devotions, beautiful
but somewhat optional. It goes to the very heart and identity of Christian life.
The word has the power to transform lives".[119]
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Exodus
17: In one place where there was no water
the people grumbled against Moses:
"Give us water to drink or else we will die."
Moses asked God for help
and God told Moses to strike a large rock with his staff.
When Moses did this, water flowed from the rock.
In another place the Israelites were attacked by the Amalekites.
Moses prayed while Joshua led the people in battle.
As long as Moses kept his arms raised up in prayer,
the Israelites were winning.
But when Moses let his arms down,
the Amalekites started winning.
So Aaron and Hur got Moses to sit on a rock
and they supported his hands until sunset.
Joshua and the people then won the battle.
Dear
God, please help us understand the power of prayer
01
02
Psalm
139: O Lord, you search me and you know me.
You know my resting and my rising. You know exactly what's going on in my life,
all my ways are an open book to you. Before ever a word is on my tongue,
you know, O Lord, what I'm going to say. Your knowledge is beyond my understanding,
too high, beyond my reach. It was you who created my being,
knit me together in my mother's womb. I thank you for the wonder of my life,
for the wonders of all your creation.
Lord, thank you for the gift of
life. Please help me follow the path to eternal life
Listen
Ephesians
1.9-13: God the Father has let us know his sacred
plan:
the whole show, everything in heaven and everything in earth,
is one big orchestra with Christ as the conductor.
We Jews are special instruments in the
orchestra.
We were chosen to put our hope in Christ before he came. And you non-Jews are also on the stage,
now that you have believed the truth of the Good News. All of us have been stamped with the Holy
Spirit.
He's the composer whose music we are playing
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thank you for the
gift of life
and the gift of faith. Help me play well!
Listen
John
18.1-11: After their Last Supper, Jesus and his
disciples went to a garden near the Kedron valley. Judas knew they would be there, since they had
often gathered there.
Judas led the police and soldiers there to arrest Jesus. Jesus said to Judas' group "Who are you
looking for?" They replied "Jesus the Nazarene".
Jesus said "I am the one you are looking for. Let these other men go
free". The group then arrested Jesus and bound him.
They took him to the religious leaders
Jesus, please bless everyone who is arrested
today, in every country
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Jesus the master conductor
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Happiest event for me yesterday was watching some 20 kind
volunteers from Peng Chau island entertaining last night's gathering for nearly
300 people with some great songs. God bless everyone present last night!
--------------------------------------
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 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, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
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Sun Aug 26
Jesus,
please bless Pope Francis in Ireland today - reports
Yesterday I spent several hours with a legal team preparing material for a case
before the High Court. The legal team was hard at work on Saturday afternoon -
no holiday. Not all legal teams are like this. Some do very little. But this
team is extraordinary in the way it is going to so much trouble for the case.
Defendant very fortunate to have such a good team.
Venezuela
heading for 'crisis moment' comparable to refugees in Mediterranean, UN says
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
141. Growth in
holiness is a journey in community, side by side with others. We see this in
some holy communities. From time to time, the Church has canonized entire
communities that lived the Gospel heroically or offered to God the lives of all
their members. We can think, for example, of the seven holy founders of the
Order of the Servants of Mary, the seven blessed sisters of the first monastery
of the Visitation in Madrid, the Japanese martyrs Saint Paul Miki and
companions, the Korean martyrs Saint Andrew Taegon and companions, or the South
American martyrs Saint Roque Gonzalez, Saint Alonso Rodriguez and companions.
We should also remember the more recent witness borne by the Trappists of
Tibhirine, Algeria, who prepared as a community for martyrdom. In many holy
marriages too, each spouse becomes a means used by Christ for the sanctification
of the other. Living or working
alongside others is surely a path of spiritual growth. Saint John of the
Cross told one of his followers: "You are living with others in order to be
fashioned and tried".[104]
-----------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Sunday 21
Joshua 23-24:
As Joshua neared the end of his life,
he urged the Israelites to stay faithful to the Lord
while living with many foreign neighbours: "Continue to observe everything
written by Moses.
Do not mingle with the foreign peoples still among you.
Do not utter the names of their gods. Stay loyal to the Lord your God.
Love the Lord your God. If you stay faithful, the Lord will
bless you.
If you are unfaithful, everything will go wrong for you. Choose today whom you will serve:
the Lord our God, or false gods. As for me and my house,
we will serve the Lord."
Dear Lord, may Joshua's
dying words be true for me:
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord".
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
34: I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my lips.
In the Lord my soul shall make its boast,
the humble shall hear and be glad. Glorify the Lord with me, together let us
praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me.
From all my terrors he set me free. The angel of the Lord is encamped around those
who revere the Lord, to rescue them. Taste and see that the Lord is good.
They are happy who seek refuge in him. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted.
Those whose spirits are crushed he will save.
Lord, by our Bible reading and
prayer, may we taste and see your goodness each day
Listen
Ephesians
5.21-33: In your families, treat each other as Christ
wants you to:
Wives, in your husbands see Christ the head of the Church.
Husbands, love your wives as Christ loves the Church. When men and women get married, they become
one body.
This sacred action helps us understand the relationship between Christ and
the Church.
Jesus, please help husbands and wives to love
each other
the way you love the Church
Listen
John
6.59-69: After hearing what Jesus said about his flesh
and blood, many of his disciples said "How can anyone believe in such
crazy ideas?" Many disciples then stopped following Jesus. Jesus said to the 12 apostles "What about
you? Are you also going to leave me?" Peter replied "Lord, who shall we go to?
You have the message of eternal life. We believe you are the Holy One of
God"
Jesus, please don't ever let me stop following
you
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: What great readings for Family Congress in Ireland this weekend! I look forward to Pope's homily on theme "as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord"!
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian, Chinese, English, and
Spanish
Daniel Daring: We believe and know (Chinese text here)
--------------------------------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------------------
Irish
joke to go with Pope's visit to Ireland.
Irishman on arrival at airport in Australia was asked "Do you have a
criminal record?". To which he replied "I didn't think you still
needed one"!
--------------------------------------
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 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, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
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Sat Aug 25
Jesus,
please give Pope Francis a safe trip to Ireland today and tomorrow
Last Wednesday morning a High Court judge gave a one year discount at the trial of a drug mule from South America, saying the participation by the defendant and his family in my anti-drug campaign was most significant and deserving of acknowledgement as a service to HK. Yesterday morning in the same High Court in the trial of another drug mule from South America, who himself and his family did as much if not more for the anti-drug campaign as the Wed defendant, a different judge said that such campaign participation was not a matter for the High Court but a matter for the Long Term Appeal Board to discuss (... bit like saying a matter for Santa Claus ...LTAB totally inactive). A great unfairness: a big difference in sentencing between the two defendants.
Also yesterday morning: I was saddened to learn of the deaths of two dear friends: Australian barrister Peter Cahill (Aug 4) and Indian asylum seeker Banki (yesterday morning). May their prayers in Heaven on the other side of the veil help us on earth on this side of the veil.
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
140. When
we live apart from others, it is very difficult to fight against concupiscence,
the snares and temptations of the devil and the selfishness of the world.
Bombarded as we are by so many enticements, we can grow too isolated, lose our
sense of reality and inner clarity, and easily succumb.
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Exodus
16: As the
Israelites traveled through the desert
they began to complain about not having enough food.
So God rained down bread, manna, from heaven
in the form of a coating of dew
which appeared on the ground each morning,
as well as flocks of quails which came every evening.
For forty years the Israelites ate manna and quails,
bread and birds.
Dear
God, thank you for the food we have each day
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
138: I thank you, Lord, with all my heart.
You have heard the words of my mouth. With the angels I will bless you.
I will adore you in your holy temple. I thank you for your faithfulness and love
which are far above what we can understand. On the day I called you answered.
You increased the strength of my soul. All earth's kings shall thank you
when they hear the words of your mouth. They shall sing of the Lord's ways:
"How great is the glory of the Lord!" Though I walk in the midst of affliction
you give me life and frustrate my foes. Your love, O Lord, is eternal.
Do not abandon us whom you have made.
Lord, when we remember how much
you love us and help us, every day of the year is a Thanksgiving Day
01
02
Ephesians
1.1-7: From Paul, appointed to be an apostle of
Christ Jesus. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ. Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Before the world was made, he chose us in Christ,
to live through love in his presence. He chose us, in Christ, to be his adopted
children,
to make us praise the glory of his grace. This grace is his free gift to us in his
Beloved Son,
through whose blood we gain our freedom
and the forgiveness of our sins
Father, thank you for upgrading me from human child to Divine Child!
Listen
John
17.1-21: After saying many things to his disciples at the meal, Jesus looked up to heaven and prayed "Father, my time has come. Give eternal life to everyone you have entrusted to
me.
Eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have
sent.
I have glorified you on earth, and finished the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, it is time for you to glorify me with the glory I had with you before the world existed.
Protect those you have given me. Protect them from Satan. Consecrate them in the
truth.
As you sent me into the world, so I am sending them into the world. May all my followers be united, so that the world will believe it was you who sent me".
Jesus, please protect our world from lies and
deception. Please bless people who witness to the truth in difficult
situations
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Truth protects us from Satan ("the father of lies"). Dishonesty opens a door of opportunity for Satan to influence us.
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
------------------------------------------
'Unlucky country' New Zealand has fun at Australia's expense
--------------------------------------
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 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, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
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Fri Aug 24
Jesus,
please give Pope Francis a safe trip to Ireland tomorrow and Sunday
Letter from a young woman from Venezuela
in prison in HK - how she was tricked/forced at age 19 by African men in Sao
Paulo (Brazil) to bring
drugs to HK, with warning to others not to make the same mistake. English
translation at bottom of this
typed script. Original letter in Spanish here
(June 8). Must say I usually learn a lot from the English translation!
Background: Drug mules at Sao Paolo airport - women set up
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
139. Let us ask the Lord for the grace not
to hesitate when the Spirit calls us to take a step forward. Let us ask for the
apostolic courage to share the Gospel with others and to stop trying to make our
Christian life a museum of memories. In every situation, may the Holy Spirit
cause us to contemplate history in the light of the risen Jesus. In this way,
the Church will not stand still, but constantly welcome the Lord's surprises.
-------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Exodus 15: The Israelites used this prayer to thank and
praise God:
"The Lord has covered himself in
glory,
horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my song,
he is my salvation.
This is my God, I praise him.
The Lord is his name.
Lord, when you blew over the waters,
they piled high on two sides.
Lord, only you are God,
there is no other.
Lord, you are our king for ever."
Dear
God, you are my strength and my salvation
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
137: By the rivers of Babylon we sat and cried,
remembering Zion.
On the poplars that grew there we hung up our harps. For it was there that they asked us, our
captors, for songs.
"Sing to us", they said, "one of Zion's songs". O how could we sing the song of the Lord on
alien soil?
If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand wither. O let my tongue cleave to my mouth
if I remember you not, Jerusalem, above all my joys.
Lord, please help people
who have been exiled from their homeland
Listen
Galatians
6.14-18:
As for me, the only thing I boast about is the
Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me,
and I to the world. It does not matter if a person is circumcised
or not.
What matters is that we become a new creature. From now on, I want no more trouble from you.
The scars on my body were suffered for the sake of Jesus. May his grace be with you
Jesus, may I look at everything in the world
from up on your Cross
Listen
John
1.35-51(for
Feast of St Bartholomew): John the Baptist told his disciples Andrew
and John that Jesus was the Chosen One of God. Andrew and John then
followed Jesus. Andrew took his brother Simon to Jesus. Jesus
changed Simon's name to Peter, and Peter followed Jesus. Jesus met Philip and said to him
"Follow me". Philip called one more man, Nathanael
(Bartholomew) and said to him "we have found the one Moses and the
prophets wrote about. He is Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth"
Jesus, please help me introduce more people to
know and love you
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: Today's first reading - water of gladness; today's psalm - water of sadness. In today's world, some places suffering from lack of water, some from flooding.
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10 years ago today: Visit to Shaoguan (two hours north of Guangzhou) where Matteo Ricci lived for
five years after he left Zhaoqing
------------------------------------------
After last night's meal for homeless people, there was a
drink-gathering at McDonald's for some asylum seekers ... including a 9 year old
boy from Africa who helped me order drinks for the whole group. He speaks
excellent English so I gave him the job of ordering ... even got him to practise
saying the order in English a few times. But then when he got to the counter he
just babbled away in Cantonese! He was born in HK, has been at local HK
kindergarten/school ... speaks excellent Cantonese!
--------------------------------------
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 24th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Inner
Mongolia
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 24th of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of Zambia
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
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Thu Aug 23
At the High Court yesterday morning a man from Brazil was
sentenced for drug trafficking. He was given a starting point of 22 years
(mandatory) which was increased to 24 years for the "international
element" (... bringing drugs into HK as distinct from trafficking within HK
.... mandatory). But then the kind judge deducted 12 months for the help the man
and his family gave my anti-drug campaign (I met the family in Sao Paulo in
January ... they took part in much publicity .... e.g. man is "M" here
in this
report of G1 which has a daily online readership of 11 million!), then deducted
another 3 years on account of the man's personal circumstances and for the man's
co-operation with authorities ... making 20 years, then 1/3 discount for the
man's guilty plea which somehow led to a rounding off of 12 years, which after
the normal 1/3 for good behaviour which all prisoners receive will become 8
years. And because the man has already been in detention since he was arrested
at HK airport in April 2017, he therefore has only 6 years and 8 months to
serve.
Trial ended on a moving note when it was revealed that the man's father (who had been seriously ill for some time) had died in the past day or so and family was trying to communicate this message to the man through a friend in HK who was in court. At which the kind judge ordered that the man be allowed, in court, while judge took brief absence, to use friend's phone to call family.
------
Baby
kissed by Pope beats brain tumour
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
138. We are inspired to act by the example
of all those priests, religious, and laity who devote themselves to proclamation
and to serving others with great fidelity, often at the risk of their lives and
certainly at the cost of their comfort. Their testimony reminds us that, more
than bureaucrats and functionaries, the Church needs passionate missionaries,
enthusiastic about sharing true life. The saints surprise us, they confound us,
because by their lives they urge us to abandon a dull and dreary mediocrity.
--------------------------------------------------------
The Book Blog: 4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Exodus
14: Not long after the Israelites left
Egypt
Pharaoh again changed his mind.
He decided to catch the Israelites
and make them return to
Dear
God, please rescue people in trouble, just as you rescued the Israelites when they were in trouble
Recording
Psalm 136: O give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
for his great love is without end. It was his wisdom which made the skies,
for his great love is without end. It was he who made the sun, moon and stars,
for his great love is without end. It was he who rescued and protected his people
Israel,
for his great love is without end. He gives food to all living things,
for his great love is without end. To the God of heaven give thanks,
for his great love is without end.
We praise you, Lord, for your
great love is without end
Recording
Galatians 6.7-9: God cannot be cheated. Where we sow is where
we will reap. If we sow in the field of self-indulgence, we
will get a harvest of corruption. If we sow in the field of the Spirit, we will
get a harvest of eternal life. Never tire of doing good
Jesus, help me sow in the field of the Spirit
by doing good
Listen
John 16.7-33: Jesus said to his disciples at the meal "I will leave you soon. After I go, I will send the New Friend to you. The New Friend will teach you all about right and wrong. The New Friend will help you know the truth about everything.
You are sad now because I am leaving you. But I will see you again, and your hearts will be full of joy. No one will be able to take that joy from you.
I have told you all these things so that you may find peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but be brave: I have conquered the world
Jesus, thank you for your peace, your joy, and your Holy Spirit
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: Dear Holy Spirit, "New Friend", "Paraclete", "Advocate" - please increase your influence in our lives, in our world!
-----------------------------
Another new Prime Minister on the horizon in Australia? Australia
becoming like Italy ... a new president every year or two?!
--------------------------------------
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 23rd 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 23rd
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
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Wed Aug 22
Yesterday
morning I received this moving 6
minute phone call from Faith Omollo, a Kenyan woman in prison in Malaysia,
facing the death penalty for drug trafficking ...having been recruited/tricked
by another Kenyan woman (now in Nigeria with her Drug Lord friends) who is responsible for many prisoners
in HK - Sharon.
Phone call is not easy to listen to, but towards end Faith asks that her story
be made public ... to stop others from falling into the same trap. I visited
Faith on June 11 this year. She has excellent lawyers and the Kenyan High
Commission is visiting her regularly. And please God the new govt in Malaysia
will abolish the death penalty.
3
Filipina drug mules sentenced to 21-24 years in jail.
Unfortunately this report does not mention that the 3 women pleaded "not
guilty" and were convicted by a jury at the end of last year ... after the
women unwisely did not plead "guilty" which would have reduced their
sentences by one third. Women had been on several previous brief "shopping
trips" to HK ... their "not guilty" case had little hope. Article
also does not mention that the 21-24 will be reduced by 1/3 for good behaviour.
So, actual time in prison is 14-16 years which reduces to 11-13 years since
they've already been detained for 3 years. If they had pleaded guilty their
sentences after all cuts would have been 10-11 years, and remaining time would
have been 7-8 years. I am going to try to help the women get more information
about their case which might help them qualify for a further reduction.
Venezuela
devalues currency and raises minimum wage by 3,000%.
One chicken costs 14,000,000 bolivars
Food
waste: alarming rise will see 66 tonnes thrown away every second
The Guardian view on Catholic sexual
abuse - yet another fresh start
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
137. Complacency
is seductive; it tells us that there is no point in trying to change things,
that there is nothing we can do, because this is the way things have
always been and yet we always manage to survive. By force of habit we
no longer stand up to evil. We "let things be", or as others
have decided they ought to be. Yet let us allow the Lord to rouse us from our
torpor, to free us from our inertia. Let
us rethink our usual way of doing things; let us open our eyes and ears,
and above all our hearts, so as not to be complacent about things as they are,
but unsettled by the living and effective word of the risen Lord.
--------------------------------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
When honesty comes at a price
The cover-up became part of the story
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Queenship of Mary
Isaiah 9: The
people that walked in darkness has seen a great light. On those who live in a
land of deep shadow, a light has shone. For the yoke that was weighing on them,
the rod of their oppressor, you have broken and removed. For there is a child
born for us, a son given to us, and dominion is laid on his shoulders. And he
will be called Wonder-Counselor, Mighty-God, Eternal-Father,
Prince-of-Peace.
Jesus, Prince of Peace, thank you for the peace and hope and joy of your
friendship and love
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
Recording
Luke
1.26-38 (a): In the sixth month of
Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in
Galilee, to a virgin named Mary who was betrothed to a man named Joseph. The
angel said to her "Mary, Rejoice! You have been greatly blessed by God. You
are to conceive and have a son whom you must name Jesus. He will be great and
will be called the Son of God". Mary said to the angel, "How can this
happen since I am a virgin?"
Recording
Luke 1.26-38 (b): The
angel replied "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most
High will specially bless you. Know this too: your cousin Elizabeth has, in her
old age, conceived a son, and is now in her sixth month". "I am
the handmaid of the Lord", said Mary, "let what you have said, be done
for me". And the angel left her.
God the Son, thank you for becoming a baby in Mary's womb
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
Gentle Woman
-------------------------------------------------------
Did you know there is now a way of finding material that
has been deleted from a sim card? Shop where I get photos developed in Yau Ma
Tei did it for me yesterday ... in my efforts to help a prisoner find a photo of
the person who recruited/tricked her
--------------------------------------
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 22nd
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Zhejiang
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 22nd
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Rwanda
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
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This website was launched in construction
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The official launching
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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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