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
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& Archives Imitating
Pope
Francis www.familyhk.org
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website's anti-drug campaign saves people from going to prison in HK
See & share inmates'
letters! How campaign began
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JesusTower
GoodNewsForPoor
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Jesus FamilyHK
Tues Dec 11
As I walked
home through Temple Street Park to Jordan last night after an O.M.I. meeting in
Kowloon City, a middle-age woman called out to me "I saw you in Tai Lam
prison last week". Turns out she was released from detention yesterday, and
as unfortunately so often happens, she had nowhere to stay and no money. This is
not the fault of the Correctional Services Dept. It's the fault of an uncaring
government which allows things like this to happen in rich HK. And it's a
lose-lose situation: the women will soon be back in detention for stealing food
in order to live. She plans to stay at McDonald's for the time being (God bless
McD's for such compassion). I invited her to join the Thursday night meal for
homeless people .... maybe some plan can be worked out to help her. She is not a
drug addict.
Please say a prayer for a father of seven from Jamaica, due
to be sentenced at High Court this morning. Recruited by a money-lending
Nigerian Drug Lord after man's home was devastated by hurricanes Matthew and
Irma. His moving story is here
(April 8)
Two thousand years ago, a young husband and his soon-to-deliver wife were on a
long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem...not by train/plane/bus or car...but by
donkey... Mary riding, Joseph walking. A journey of around 150 km .... longer than
from HK to Guangzhou (119km) or from Brisbane to Toowoomba (127km)...about same
as from Melbourne to Morwell (152km). A trip that would have taken around 10
days. See Hiking
the Nativity Trail from Nazareth to Bethlehem. In our prayers over
the next two weeks before Christmas, let's often remember Joseph and Mary and
Jesus travelling to Bethlehem.
Pope Francis - The
Joy of the Gospel No. 55:
The current financial crisis can make us overlook the fact that it originated in
a profound human crisis: the denial of
the primacy of the human person!
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The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Joshua
8: Once again
the Israelites attacked the town of Ai, this time with a special strategy: 5,000
men went by night to the back of the town and hid themselves in the nearby
hills. In the morning Joshua and the rest of the people marched towards the
front of Ai. When the king of Ai saw them coming, he led his people out
for battle. In chasing the Israelites, the king of Ai left his town undefended.
Then the 5,000 Israelites attacked Ai from the rear and set it on fire. When the
men of Ai looked back and saw their town on fire, they realized they were caught
in a trap. The Israelites easily won the battle and captured Ai.
Dear Lord, please give leaders the courage of Joshua
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
108: My heart is ready, O God. I will sing, sing
your praise.
Awake, lyre and harp. I will awake the dawn. I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples,
praise you among the nations, for your love reaches to the heavens
and your truth to the skies. O Lord, come and deliver us today.
Help us with your right hand. Give us help in difficult situations.
With your help we shall be brave.
Lord, we need your help every
day
Listen
Philemon
1-7:
From Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy,
to our dear fellow worker Philemon and the church that meets in your
house. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ. I am so happy that your faith and love have given great
encouragement to the believers
Jesus, bless all house church groups
and meetings
Listen
Two thousand years ago, a young husband and his soon-to-deliver wife were on a
long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem...not by train/plane/bus or car...but by
donkey...Mary riding, Joseph walking. A journey of around 150 km ....longer than
from HK to Guangzhou (119km) or from Brisbane to Toowoomba (127km)...about same
as from Melbourne to Morwell (152km). A trip that would have taken around 10
days. See Hiking
the Nativity Trail from Nazareth to Bethlehem. In our prayers over
the next two weeks before Christmas, let's often remember Joseph and Mary and
Jesus travelling to Bethlehem.
--------------------------------------------------------
Above story was not first time Jesus travelled by donkey.
First time was when Mary made almost the same trip to visit her cousin
Elizabeth. I wonder if it was the same donkey?! A question to check when we get
to Heaven!
--------------------------------------
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 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, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
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Mon Dec 10
Yesterday afternoon's usual Sunday gathering for the poor was a Christmas special .... with volunteers from many groups singing Christmas carols and helping look after nearly 300 guests. Especially beautiful was the sight of school students, with their parents, all wearing Christmas caps, serving the guests. One large group of parents and students was from Yau Ma Tei Catholic Primary School in whose hall the gathering is held each week. No doubt the students will today enjoy telling their classmates "what I did here yesterday afternoon"! In a de-briefing to that same group, a Caritas social worker used Jesus' words "there is more happiness in giving than receiving".
Pope Francis - The
Joy of the Gospel No. 54:
The
culture of prosperity deadens us; we are thrilled if the market offers us
something new to purchase. On the other hand, lives stunted for lack of
opportunity seem a mere spectacle; they fail to move us.
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Psalm 107 (a):
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His great love is without end. Let them say this, those the Lord has helped,
people from east and west, north and south. Some people wandered in the
desert, lost and unable to find their way to safety. In their hunger and thirst they cried to the
Lord for help.
He rescued them and showed them the way to safety. Let them thank the Lord for his love,
for he fills the hungry with good things.
01
(b):
Some people were prisoners in misery and
chains,
living in darkness and gloom. In their distress they cried to the Lord for
help.
He rescued them and restored their freedom. Let them thank the Lord for his goodness,
for he shatters the iron bars of prisons.
02
(c):
Some people were sick on account of their
sins,
unable to eat, and close to death. They cried to the Lord in their need.
He healed them and saved them from the grave. Let them thank the Lord for his love,
for the wonders he does for us.
03
(d):
Some people sailed to the sea in ships
and were caught in terrifying storms. They cried to the Lord in their need
and he calmed the sea and wind. Let them thank the Lord for his love,
for the wonders he does for us. Whoever is wise should meditate on these
things
and reflect on the love of the Lord.
04
Thank
you Lord, for your rescuing love
Reflection on the above readings: The four situations in Psalm 107 sum up all our difficulties/problems/trials/mistakes ... for all of which God has a Plan R(escue)
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--------------------------------------
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 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, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
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Dec 9 - Second Sunday of Advent
After Christmas, please God, I'll be going to Malaysia to visit
the families of more than 20 young Malaysians in prison in HK ... and to do some
publicity to stop the flow (..18 this year). But I've already met one family!
They are here to visit their relative ... and I joined them for lunch yesterday.
A great sorrow to have a young family member in prison. Please God, "no
more"!
Thousands
of migrants on way to US have died or gone missing
Pope Francis - The
Joy of the Gospel No. 54:
To sustain a lifestyle which excludes others,
or to sustain enthusiasm for that selfish ideal, a
globalization of indifference has developed. Almost without being aware
of it, we end up being incapable of feeling compassion at the outcry of the
poor, weeping for other people's pain, and feeling a need to help them, as
though all this were someone else's responsibility and not our own.
-----------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Advent 2
Isaiah 36-40: "Console my people, console them"
says the Lord. A voice cries out "Prepare in the
wilderness a way for the Lord.
Make a straight highway for our God across every desert. Let every valley be filled in,
every mountain and hill be laid low.
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed
and all people will see the Lord's glory." Go up on a high mountain,
joyful messenger to Zion. Shout with a loud voice,
joyful messenger to Jerusalem. Shout to the towns of Judah
"Here is your God". Lord, please help me prepare
your way
into my heart, into my family, into my world
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
126: When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage,
it seemed like a dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
on our lips there were songs. What marvels the Lord worked for us.
Indeed we were glad. Those who are sowing in tears
will sing when they reap. They go out, full of tears, carrying seed for
the sowing.
They come back, full of song, carrying their sheaves. Dear God, please bless all
people who are sorrowful as they work
Listen
Philippians
1.1-9:
From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ
Jesus, to all the believers in the Church
at Philippi. We wish you the grace and peace of God our
Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank God whenever I think of you. Every
time I pray for you, I pray with joy, remembering how you helped to spread
the Good News. You have a permanent place in my
heart. God
knows how much I miss you. I love you as Christ Jesus loves you. My prayer is that your love for each other
will increase more and more, helping you always to know what is good and
to avoid what is bad.
Jesus, thank you for all the people
who have a permanent place in my heart
Listen
Luke
3.1-6: In the 15th year of the Roman Emperor
Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea, Herod was
ruler of Galilee and during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,
God's message entered the heart of John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
John went through the whole Jordan River area
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This had been foretold by the prophet Isaiah
when he said
"A voice cries in the wilderness:
Prepare a way for the Lord"
Jesus, help us prepare your way, like
John
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: God's rescuing/saving help is available 24/7. So what is stopping people addicted to drugs or other things from receiving that help? Mountains of pride/delusion need to be flattened .... valleys of depression/fear need to be filled in. And how can this be done? Bit like asking a drowning person to save themselves? Persons themselves need to be as honest as they can with God ... and usually someone else needs to help prepare a way for the Lord to enter their hearts. How prepare? By prayer/friendship/compassion and practical help.
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian, Chinese, English, and
Spanish
Daniel Daring: Everyone shall see the salvation of our God (Chinese text)
--------------------------------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------------------
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
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 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, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
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Sat Dec 8
Feast
of the Immaculate Conception of Mary by her mother Anne
This feast reminds us that it is possible to defeat evil - e.g. the evil of drugs. Drug taking/trafficking can be stopped. Whenever evil wins a battle, it can still lose the war. From defeats by evil, greater goodness than previously thought possible, can become possible.
Yesterday at Lai Chi Kok men's prison I was saddened to meet two
arrivals recently arrested at HK airport, both Europeans who obtained their
drugs in Sao Paulo .... and saddened to know I needed to upgrade my count of
drug mules from Africa from 7 to 9 (... two had got under my guard ...). But
.... see words above re drug
trafficking!
My first time to hear of this:
Mules
ingesting dollar notes!
Pope Francis - The
Joy of the Gospel No. 54:
Some people continue to defend trickle-down
theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market,
will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in
the world.
This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naive trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power and in the sacralized workings of the prevailing economic system. Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Immaculate Conception
Genesis
3: A
creature hostile to God took the form of a snake and tempted the first man and
first woman. The snake tempted them to disobey God. When God asked them why they
disobeyed him, the man blamed the woman, and the woman blamed the snake. God
said to the snake: "You are the enemy of the human race. Someday
a member of the human race will defeat you." God said to the man and
woman: "From dust you came and to dust you will return." The
first man's name was Adam (meaning "man"). The first woman's name was
Eve (meaning "life").
Dear God, please help me understand how evil in the world started when
Adam and Eve disobeyed you
My
recording of this reading (and see 
below!)
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
Recording
Ephesians
1: Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in
Christ. Before the world was made, he
chose us, chose us in Christ, to be holy and spotless, and to live
through love in his presence, determining that we should become his adopted
children, the people who would put their hope in Christ before he came.
God our Father, before Mary was born, you chose her to be Jesus' mother.
Before I was born, you chose me to be a brother/sister of Jesus
Recording
Luke 1:
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?" 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 readings:
Mary got involved, from start to finish - Mary a model re Pope Francis' words "get out", "get involved", "look outwards"
-------------------------------------
A man sent his
friend a Christmas card. It said: A B C D E F G H I J K M N O P Q R S T U V W X
Y Z. The recipient puzzled over it for weeks, finally gave up and wrote
asking for an explanation. He received the explanation on a postcard: "No
L." (The
1st Noel)
--------------------------------------
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 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, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
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Fri Dec 7
Recommended by a reader in Australia:
Christmas Hallelujah (with lyrics -
good for English)
Much info re a wonderful NGO which sends volunteers to poor
countries - PALMS
Pressure
on Snowden's HK lawyer
Pope Francis - The
Joy of the Gospel No. 53:
Human beings are themselves considered consumer goods to be used and then
discarded. We have created a throw away
culture which is now spreading.
-------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Joshua 7: The
Lord had told the Israelites not to keep anything for themselves
when they captured Jericho. But
one man disobeyed the Lord
and secretly kept some of the spoils. As
a result of that man's disobedience,
the Israelites were defeated in battle when they attacked the town of Ai.
The
disobedient man's identity was found by drawing of the lot: of the 12 tribes, one was chosen, the tribe of Judah.
Of the tribe of Judah, one clan was chosen, that of Zerah. Of the families of Zerah, one was chosen, that of Zabdi.
Of the men of Zabdi, one was chosen, Achan. Achan
admitted his guilt.
He and his whole family were then stoned to death
and a great cairn built over them.
All of Achan's possessions were burnt.
Dear
Lord, please don't let me disobey you
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
106: O give thanks to the Lord for he is good.
His great love is without end. They are happy who do what is right,
who at all times remember what is just. When our ancestors came out of Egypt,
they forgot the greatness of God's love. Each time they strayed, God forgave them.
But still they continued to forget God who was their saviour,
God who had done such great things for them in Egypt.
O Lord, our God, please don't
let us forget your love
Listen
Titus
3.8-15:
Tell people to keep their minds occupied in
doing good works.
Avoid useless speculations about trivial matters. All believers, including elders, should try to
be self-supporting. Grace be with you all.
Jesus, help me be a doer and not just a
talker
Listen
Matthew
25.31-46: Jesus said to his disciples:
When I come in glory at the end of the world,
all peoples of all times will be gathered in front of me. I will separate them, like a
shepherd separates sheep from goats.
I will place the sheep on my right, the goats on my left. I will say to those on my right
"Come and enter my kingdom.
For I was hungry, and you gave me food.
I was thirsty, and you gave me drink.
I was a stranger, and you made me welcome.
I was naked, and you clothed me.
I was sick, and you visited me.
I was in prison, and you came to see me".
Then those good people on my right will say
"Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you?
When did we see you thirsty and give you a drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
naked and clothe you, sick or in prison, and visit you?" I will answer
"Each time you helped and cared for a poor person,
you helped and cared for me". Then I will say to those on my
left
"Go away from me and join Satan and his angels in hell. For I was hungry, and you never
gave me food.
I was thirsty, and you never gave me anything to drink.
I was a stranger, and you never made me welcome,
naked, and you never clothed me,
sick and in prison, and you never visited me". Those on my left will then ask
"Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked,
sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?" I will answer
"Each time you refused to help and care for a poor person,
you refused to help and care for me". Those on the left will then go to
eternal punishment.
Those on the right will go to eternal life.
Jesus, please help me do more for poor people.
Make me understand that when I help a poor person, I help you
01
02
03 04
Reflection on the above Bible readings: I know the name of every person I visit in prison: Jesus
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--------------------------------------
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 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, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
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Thu Dec 6
Today is the Feast of Saint
Nicholas, from whose name we get the name "Santa
Claus". He was a bishop who cared about poor people. Video:
The
St. Nicholas Tradition.
Today is a public holiday in some countries. And
see ,
below!
Yesterday I spent 8 hours at Tai Lam women's prison, meeting yet more new
victims of the "please help me collect a parcel from post office /
courier" game ... arranged by Nigerian boyfriends. What can be done to
spread the message "Don't ever, for anyone, collect a parcel"?!
Last night some wonderful news: Hugo, the very sick man from Bolivia who is now
in a HK hospital, has been released from detention. Thank you Jesus! Bolivia
does not have a consulate in HK ... Bolivians are helped by the Argentine consul
... who has been absolutely marvellous. Yesterday he spent 2 hours with Hugo,
encouraging him to build up his strength for a trip back to Bolivia please God!
Drug
law reformer takes his cause to the Vatican
Pope Francis - The
Joy of the Gospel No. 53:
Today everything comes under the laws of competition and the
survival of the fittest, where the powerful feed upon the powerless. As a
consequence, masses of people find themselves excluded and marginalized: without
work, without possibilities, without any means of escape.
--------------------------------------------------------
The Book Blog: 4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Joshua 6: The Lord said to
Joshua:
"I am delivering Jericho and its king into your hands. Get your soldiers to
march around Jericho.
Do this for 6 days,
marching with the Sacred Chest with 7 trumpets in front of it. On the 7th day, march
around the city 7 times,
and then let the whole people give a mighty war cry." The soldiers and people
did this,
and when the war cry was made,
the walls of Jericho fell down. The Israelites then
entered the town and captured it.
They spared the lives of Rahab the prostitute and her family
Dear
Lord, long ago you caused the walls of Jericho to fall.
Please in our day cause walls of prejudice and corruption to fall
Recording
Psalm 105: Give thanks to the Lord, make known his deeds among all the peoples.
O sing to him, sing his praise.
Tell all his wonderful works. Be proud of his holy name.
Let hearts that seek the Lord rejoice. Consider the Lord and his strength.
Constantly seek his face. Never forget how the Lord has helped us in the
past,
how he has protected Israel from its beginning till now.
Dear
God, please help me understand how you have been loving and protecting me
since the beginning of my life
Recording
Titus 3.1-7: Remind everyone to be obedient to government
officials; to be ready to do good at every
opportunity; not to go
slandering other people or picking quarrels; to be courteous and polite to
everyone. There was a time when we too were ignorant;
when we lived in wickedness and ill-will, hating each other and hateful
ourselves. But then the kindness and love of God our
Saviour were revealed, and God saved us because of his compassion. God saved us by the cleansing water of
rebirth, and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit whom he has poured over
us through Jesus Christ our Saviour. So we are justified by his grace, and look
forward to eternal life
Jesus,
Saviour of the world, you
are our Saviour
Listen
Matthew
24.9-44: Jesus spoke to his disciples about the
future:
"On account of my name you will be hated, tortured and killed.
But the Good News of the kingdom will spread to every nation
before the end of the world. At the end of the world, the sun
and moon will stop shining.
Stars will fall from the sky. Then the sign of the Son of Man
will appear in the sky
and all peoples will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds
with power and glory.
He will send his angels with a loud trumpet
to gather good people from all parts of the earth. Therefore you should
live a good life,
and you will have nothing to fear on your last day."
Jesus, please help me be a good person
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: After reading Joshua, we can ask has prayer helped bring down any wall in recent years? Yep. The Berlin Wall!
-----------------------------
For
St Nicholas' Day! Tradition says he really did spend time in prison!
--------------------------------------
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 6th 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 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, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
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Wed Dec 5
Yesterday morning while I visited the
custodial ward of a local hospital ... I couldn't help thinking to myself "I should be here
more, and at the computer less". Then after visits to book shops to obtain
items for prisoners, I attended an encouraging meeting of the new NGO
"Voice for Prisoners" which now has its own GPO and email addresses
(to be made public soon .. when there's a secretary to process messages!)
This is good:
Pope
- Advent a time to stop "small wars" in families
Excellent
report on exodus of refugees from Venezuela to Colombia and Brazil
Pope Francis - The
Joy of the Gospel No. 53:
Can we continue to stand by when food is thrown away while people
are starving?
--------------------------------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
Henri Nouwen - a lonely mystic
Because of his own struggles and experiences he was able bring support to those
who were struggling, he knew where they were for he had been there himself.
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Joshua 5: The kings of the
Jordan area
heard that the Lord had
dried up the Jordan's waters
to let the Israelites cross over.
The kings became very afraid of the Israelites. At Gilgal near the
Jordan
the Lord instructed Joshua
that all un-circumcised men should be circumcised. It was at Gilgal that
the Israelites kept the Passover Feast
and tasted the produce of the land.
As soon as the Israelites tasted the produce of the land,
the manna stopped falling.
Dear
God, thank you for all you did for the Israelites
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
104: Bless the Lord, my soul!
Lord God, how great you are. You make the clouds your chariot.
You walk on the wings of the wind. You make springs gush forth in the valleys.
They give drink to all the animals of the field. You make grass grow for the cattle
and plants to provide food for people. You give us wine to cheer our hearts
and oil to make our faces shine. You made the moon to mark the months.
The sun knows the time for its setting. How many are your works, O
Lord.
In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your riches
and the sea is swarming with life. All things, great and small, look to you for
food.
You open your hand, they have their fill. You send forth your spirit, and life is
created.
You renew the face of the earth. I will sing to the Lord all my life.
May my thoughts be pleasing to him.
Bless the Lord, my soul!
01
02
Titus
2.11-14: God's grace has made salvation available for
the whole human race.
We must give up everything that does not lead to God. We must delete our worldly ambitions. We must
be self-restrained and live good lives here in this present world, while
we wait in hope for the blessings that will come with the Coming of the
glory of our God and savior Christ Jesus. He sacrificed himself for us in order to set
us free from wickedness, and to purify us so that we would have no
ambition except to do good.
Jesus, please help me give up everything that
does not lead to you
Listen
Matthew
23.1-36: Jesus told the people to respect
their religious leaders, but he condemned the religious leaders for not practising what they preached,
for doing things just to attract attention, for craving front seats and places of honor,
for being concerned only with externals. Jesus called the religious
leaders "hypocrites", "blind guides", "tombs that look good on the outside but are full of dead
bones".
Jesus, help religious leaders be good
people
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: "Giving up what does not lead to God" (Titus) is a theme of next Sunday's Mass (the third Sunday of Advent)
-------------------------------------------------------
Yesterday morning I collected some reading glasses for a
prisoner, at least once a month performing this most worthwhile chore. Spectacle
shop staff always happy to see (no pun intended) me for the business I give them
.... and I am happy to see them for the discount they give me
--------------------------------------
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 5th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Guizhou
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 5th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Chad
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
2018: My trip to Thailand and Cambodia
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
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