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Fr John Wotherspoon
O.M.I . 胡頌恆神父
jdwomi@gmail.com
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Happy New Year! I wish all dear readers every blessing for 2019!
Tues Jan 1
Thank you Jesus for all your blessings of 2018. Please bless and protect us in 2019!
Yesterday in the city of Ipoh, two and half hours by train north
of Kuala Lumpur, I visited two more families of young Malaysians in prison on
drug trafficking charges. The two whose families I visited yesterday are
pleading "not guilty". The two whose families I met on Sunday are
pleading "guilty". God bless them all, and their families. Last night
I returned to Kuala Lumpur where I hope to see more families over the coming
days.
Four new overseas guests for prison in HK:
Officers seize suspected cocaine, ketamine
Snowden's HK lawyer Robert Tibbo - talk in Germany:
The Surveillance State
Pope Francis - The Joy of the Gospel No. 71: God does not hide himself from those who seek him with a sincere heart, even though they do so tentatively, in a vague and haphazard manner.
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The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. Readings for January 1
Numbers 6: God
said to Moses and Aaron: "This is
how you are to bless the people. Say to them:
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord let his face shine on you and
be gracious to you. May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you
peace."
Dear God, please bless everyone in the world
My
recording of this reading
Psalms 66-68: O
God, be gracious and bless us and let your face shine its light upon us. Let
all the peoples praise you, O God. Let all the peoples praise you. O sing
to the Lord, make music to his name. Rejoice in the Lord, exult at his presence.
Father of the orphan, defender of the widow, God provides a shelter for the
homeless. God gives his people strength.
May all the peoples of the earth know you and praise you, O God
Recording
Galatians
4.4-6: When the appointed time came,
God sent his Son, born of a woman,
born a subject of the Law, to redeem the subjects of the Law, and to enable us
to be adopted as children of God, brothers and sisters of his Son. The proof
that we are children is that God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts:
the Spirit that cries "Abba, Father"
Jesus, help me understand how I have
been adopted, how you are my Brother
Recording
Luke 2.21: When the eighth day came and the child
was to be circumcised, they gave him the name Jesus, the name the angel had
given him before his conception.
Jesus - "God saves" - you are our Saviour
Reflection
- 
-
really beautiful -
words of today's first reading:
Blessing
Song
--------------------------------------------------------
A New Year's resolution is something
that goes in one year and out the
other.
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia,
Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent, N America
Jesus,
today, Tuesday,
please bless the people of
South
Asia
And praying for
prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 1st
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Anhui
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 1st of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Congo
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
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I wish all dear readers every blessing for 2019!
Mon Dec 31
Hello again from Malaysia,
from the town of Ipoh about 2 and a half hours by train north of Kuala Lumpur.
On arrival here yesterday I had a lunch meeting with the father of one young
Malaysian in prison in HK ... together with the younger brother of a second
young Malaysian in a HK prison. Today I'm due to meet with two more
families.
During yesterday's meal I received a W/App message from the "No More
Mules" team in HK with these most encouraging statistics from their FB
"boost" campaign aimed at Malaysia - check the number of people
reached!
3
Filipinos, 1 Thai, 1 Sri Lankan:
Five arrested for supplying drugs on
Lamma
Pope Francis - The
Joy of the Gospel No. 71:
We
need to look at our cities with a contemplative gaze, a
gaze of faith which sees God dwelling in their homes, in their streets and
squares.
-----------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Judges
3: Some of the Israelites
forgot the Lord their God
and worshipped false gods. As a result, they were
enslaved by the king of Edom for 8 years. They cried to God for
help
and God raised up Othniel, a nephew of Caleb,
to lead and rescue them. Then the land enjoyed
peace for 40 years. But when Othniel died,
the Israelites again began to do what displeases the Lord,
and were again enslaved, this time by Eglon king of Moab,
for 18 years. Once more they cried to
the Lord for help
and he raised up Ehud, a left-hander. As Ehud presented
tribute to Eglon,
he said to Eglon:
"I have a secret message for you".
When they were alone, Eglon thought he was safe,
because Ehud's knife was on his right thigh.
Ehud then used his left-hand to grab the knife unexpectedly
and killed Eglon. Ehud escaped from the
king's quarters
before the king's attendants knew Eglon was dead. Ehud then roused the
Israelites to fight and defeat the Moabites,
after which the land enjoyed peace for 80 years
Lord,
please raise up good leaders in every country
01
02
Psalm
130: Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice.
If you, O Lord, should
record our guilt,
Lord, who would survive? But with you is found
forgiveness.
For this we revere you. My soul is waiting for the Lord.
I count on his word. My soul is longing for the Lord
more than watchman for the daybreak. With the Lord there is mercy
and fullness of redemption. Israel indeed he will redeem
from all its iniquity.
Lord, please forgive me for all
the bad things I have done
Listen
Hebrews
7.1-28: Melchizedek was king of Salem and a priest of
God. He blessed Abraham. Abraham gave Melchizedek 10% of all
he had. Melchizedek's priesthood continued down
the ages in people dedicated to the service of God. It reached its
perfection in the Son of God, the Eternal High Priest. The Son of God, our Lord, did not come from
the priestly tribe of Levi. Everyone knows he came from the tribe of Judah.
This is because he established a new
priesthood, coming not from Levi, but from Melchizedek. This is why the
prophecy was made of him "You are a priest of the order of
Melchizedek, for ever". Jesus' priestly power to save us is utterly
certain, since he is living for ever to intercede for all who come to God
through him
Jesus, Eternal High Priest, please help all
pastors and priests be more like you every day
Listen
Mark
1.9-13: About this time Jesus came from Nazareth in
Galilee
and was baptized by John in the river Jordan. As soon as Jesus came out of the water, he saw
the sky open
and the Spirit, like a dove, coming down on him. Then a voice came from heaven
"You are my Son, the Beloved. My favor rests on you".
Straight after this the Spirit led Jesus into
the wilderness for 40 days.
During this time Jesus was tempted by Satan.
Holy Spirit, please increase
your influence in my life
Listen
Reflection on the above readings:
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Sign
at entrance of lift in hotel where I'm staying in Ipoh:
"No dogs or durians allowed"!
--------------------------------------
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 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, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
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Sun Dec 30
Yesterday here in Kuala Lumpur I spent much time preparing for the coming weeks of meeting families ... starting early tomorrow morning with a trip to another city for two days ... where I'm due to meet four families. The hotel where I'm staying in KL is near a major shopping centre which makes many things easy ...e.g. yesterday I needed to do quite a bit of printing ... and there's an excellent printing shop at the centre. But one thing I need to be careful of - since there is such a large Indian population in Malaysia - is talking about cricket! ...with the current 5-day test between India and Australia in Melbourne due to finish today! For the sake of diplomacy, I'm hoping the test will finish in a draw!
Australian
Navy seizes 900kg of heroin in Arabian Sea
Pope Francis - The
Joy of the Gospel No. 67:
The individualism of our postmodern and globalized era favours a lifestyle which
weakens the development and stability of personal relationships and distorts family
bonds.
-----------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Feast of Holy Family
Sirach 1-3: All wisdom comes from God.
Love for God is the source of wisdom. If you desire wisdom, keep the Lord's
commandments,
in private as well as in public. Keep the commandment to honor your
parents.
Respect for your father will atone for your sins.
Honor for your mother will gain you blessings. Support your father in his old age.
Even if his mind should fail, show him kindness.
Do not despise him in your health and strength. Be gentle in the way you live your life.
The greater you are, the more humbly you should behave.
Dear
God, please help me always respect and honor my parents
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
128: O blessed are those who love the Lord and
walk in his ways. By the labor of your hands you shall eat.
You will be happy and prosper: your wife like a fruitful vine in the heart of
your house;
your children like shoots of the olive, around your table. Indeed thus shall be blessed
the people who love and honor the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days
of your life.
May you see your children's children in a happy Jerusalem!
On Israel, peace!
Dear Lord, may all married
people live to see their children's children
Listen
Colossians
3-4:
Wives and
husbands, understand and support
each other. Children, be obedient to your parents.
Parents, treat your children fairly or else they will rebel.
Slaves, be obedient and respectful to your
owners.
Offer up your work to the Lord, our Heavenly Owner. Owners, be just and fair to your slaves.
Remember your Heavenly Owner.
Jesus, help
families to live
together in harmony
Listen
Luke
2.39-52: Joseph and Mary moved back to their own town
of Nazareth.
The child Jesus was filled with wisdom as he grew older. Each year Joseph and Mary would take
Jesus to Jerusalem for the celebration of the Passover. When Jesus
was 12 years old, they went to Jerusalem as usual. But when their traveling group left Jerusalem,
Jesus stayed behind without his parents knowing it. They presumed he
was somewhere with the group . When they couldn't find him, they went back
to Jerusalem to look for him. After 2 days, they found him, in the Temple,
listening to the religion teachers and asking them questions. People who
heard him were astounded at his intelligence. His mother said to him "My child, why
have you done this to us? Your father and I have been really worried about
you". Jesus replied "Why were you looking for
me? Didn't you know that I must be concerned with my Father's
work?" But they didn't understand what he meant. He went with them to Nazareth and lived under
their authority.
His mother stored all these things in her heart
Jesus, please help all "lost
children" to be found!
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings:
F.A.M.I.L.Y.
= Father And Mother
I Love You
& = First And Most
Important Love Yahweh
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian, Chinese, English, and
Spanish
Daniel Daring: To be in the Father's affairs
--------------------------------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------------------
True
story to go with today's 2nd reading:
Young student doing this reading at school Mass many years ago in Australia,
accidentally changed "wives, give way to your husbands" to
"wives, give away your husbands".
--------------------------------------
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 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, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
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Sat Dec 29
Hello again from Malaysia. Yesterday here in Kuala Lumpur I
attended a long meeting with my 4 HK media friends and 2 local KL media friends.
Please God their coming reports will do much to slow down the flow of young drug
mules from Malaysia to HK (...23 in the past 9 months). After the meeting, and
after considerable frustration with a poor sim card bought on arrival at KL the
night before, I went to a local shopping centre and got a new card which is now
giving excellent service. Then I spent quite a while using W/Ap and ordinary
phone calls to line up some visits in the coming days to families of prisoners
in HK. Followed by a long wait at a nearby train station to buy tickets for
coming days. "Travellers need patience" is always true ....and was
certainly true on arrival at KL airport two nights ago when immigration
processing took 2 hours! FYI - the best
sim card to get in KL is "Hotlink" ...it gives a service as fast as
broadband in HK!
Pope Francis - The
Joy of the Gospel No. 66:
Marriage now tends to be viewed
as a form of mere emotional satisfaction that can be constructed in any way or
modified at will.
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Judges
1-2: After the death of
Joshua,
the Israelites continued their campaign to occupy all parts of the land of Canaan.
But as time went
on, the Israelites began to forget the Lord their
God.
As a result, things went wrong for the Israelites. To help them, the Lord
appointed judges to lead them.
For a while the people followed the judges. But as soon as a judge died,
the people again lapsed into idolatry.
Dear God,
please don't let me forget you.
Please help me pray to you and love you every day.
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
128: O blessed are those who love the Lord and
walk in his ways. By the labor of your hands you shall eat.
You will be happy and prosper: your wife like a fruitful vine in the heart of
your house;
your children like shoots of the olive, around your table. Indeed thus shall be blessed
the people who love and honor the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days
of your life.
May you see your children's children in a happy Jerusalem!
On Israel, peace!
Dear Lord, may all married
people live to see their children's children
Listen
Hebrews
6.11-19:
May every one of you persevere in your
Christian life.
Never give up. Remember how Abraham persevered in following
God, despite so many difficulties. Take a firm grip on the hope that is held out
to us by God.
This hope is an anchor for us, a lifeline going right up to heaven
Jesus, you are my anchor.
You are my lifeline
Listen
Mark
1.1-8: This is the
story of the Good News about Jesus Christ,
the Son of God. Long ago God
said through the prophet Isaiah
"I am going to send my messenger before you. He will prepare your
way. A voice cries out in the wilderness: prepare a way for the
Lord". And so it was
that John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness,
proclaiming a baptism for the forgiveness of sins. As the people
were baptized by John in the river Jordan,
they confessed their sins. John wore a
garment of camel skin.
Locusts and wild honey were his food. He said to the
people "Someone is coming who is more important than I am. I am not
worthy to kneel down and undo his sandal straps.
I baptize you with water. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit".
Jesus,
please help us prepare a way for you like John the Baptist
Listen
Reflection on the above readings:
-------------------------------------
To go with today's Gospel:
Not dessert, but desert menu from the Bible:
1. Bread and birds (Israelites)
2. Locusts and honey (John the Baptist)
--------------------------------------
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 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, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
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Fri Dec 28
Hello from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia where I arrived last night from HK. This is my third trip to Malaysia, this time using
my holiday time so I can stay longer .... to visit families of young Malaysian
drug mules in HK and to do publicity to try to stop the flow of mules - 23 of
them in the final 9 months of 2018. A 4-person media team from HK is with me,
and we will be working with local media to produce much publicity to stop the
flow of mules - in the same way that intense publicity helped stop the flow of
mules from places like Tanzania and Venezuela. Jesus,
please bless this trip (as you so wonderfully blessed previous trips), bless all
who made the trip possible, all who will be met during the coming weeks .... and
the kind people who are praying for the trip.
Pope Francis - The
Joy of the Gospel No. 64:
We are living in an information-driven society which bombards us
indiscriminately with data - all treated as being of equal importance - and
which leads to remarkable superficiality
in the area of moral discernment. In response, we need to provide an
education which teaches critical
thinking and encourages the development of mature moral values
-------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
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
127: If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labor.
If the Lord does not watch over the city,
in vain does the watchman keep vigil. Success comes not from earlier rising or from
going later to rest,
but from the Lord's blessing. Success is from the Lord
who blesses the womb of his beloved while she sleeps. Truly, children are a gift from the Lord,
a blessing, the fruit of the
womb.
Lord, many people these days
don't want children. Please help such people understand that children are
a blessing
Listen
Hebrews
4.12-16: The word of God is something alive and active.
It goes deep into our hearts. In Jesus we have the supreme high priest who
is now in the highest heaven. He knows how weak we are. He himself was
tempted in every way, but did not sin. Let us be confident in approaching his throne
of grace.
He will give us grace when we are in need of help
Jesus, our high priest, help me when I'm weak
Listen
Matthew
2.13-23 (for Feast
of theHoly Innocents): After the wise men left Bethlehem,
an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said "Go quickly to Egypt,
because Herod wants to kill the child". That same night, Joseph got up
and set out for Egypt with Mary and Jesus.
Herod was angry after being tricked by the wise men.
He got his soldiers to kill all baby boys two years old or younger in
Bethlehem. After Herod died some months later,
an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream
and told him to return to Israel. Joseph, Mary and Jesus moved to the town of
Nazareth,
thus fulfilling the prophecy about the Saviour:
"He will be called a Nazarene".
Jesus, you were once a refugee. Please bless all refugees in the world today
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: Today in the Catholic Church is a day for praying for protection of babies in the womb, for protection from the Herods of the abortion abattoirs
----------------------------------------------
On air flights I love having a few games of chess on the
entertainment screen. But yesterday I had a problem because the black chess
pieces were very hard to see. Two solutions were used: 1 - turn up the
brightness! And 2 - play as black rather than white!
--------------------------------------
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 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, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
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Thu Dec 27
Today I'm due to go to Malaysia. Due back HK January 25 Please
God. In Malaysia I hope to visit 20+ families of young Malaysians in prison in
HK for drug trafficking. Grateful for a prayer each day please. From today, I will use this
poster, or a better version of it:
And I will use these professionally prepared items kindly prepared for my Malaysia trip by the "No More Mules"
team: here and here
and here
and here!
Could
"Big Snake Nam" help free four Hongkongers jailed in Philippines?
Pope Francis - The
Joy of the Gospel No. 64:
The process
of secularization tends to reduce the faith and the Church to the sphere
of the private and personal. Furthermore, by completely rejecting the
transcendent, it has produced a growing deterioration of ethics, a weakening of
the sense of personal and collective sin, and a steady increase in relativism. These
have led to a general sense of
disorientation, especially in the periods of adolescence and young
adulthood which are so vulnerable to change.
--------------------------------------------------------
The Book Blog: 4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
c.f. readings for St John the Apostle
John
13.34-35: Jesus said to his disciples at the
meal "I give you a new commandment:
love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also must love one another. By
this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my
disciples". Jesus, please help all
Christians to love one another as you have loved us
Recording of this reading
John 20.1-10: Before
dawn the next morning, Sunday, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. She saw
the stone had been moved from the tomb's entrance. She
ran to Peter and John and said "Someone has taken the Lord out of the
tomb". They ran back to the tomb. Peter went in first. He saw that the
linen cloths were on the ground. But the cloth that had been around Jesus' head
was not on the ground. It was neatly folded and in a place by itself. Then John
went into the tomb. He saw, and he
believed
Jesus, I believe you rose from the dead. Please increase my faith
Recording
1 John 1.1-2: Something
which has existed since the beginning - that we heard, that we saw with our own
eyes, that we touched with our hands: the
Word, who is life - this is our subject. That
life was made visible. We saw it,
and we are giving our testimony, telling you of the eternal life which was with
the Father and has been made visible to us.
Jesus, Word-made-flesh, you are the Way, the
Truth and the Life
Recording
Revelation 1.9-17: I,
John, share your sufferings. I was on
the island of Patmos, imprisoned for having preached about Jesus. One
Sunday the Spirit possessed me. I heard a voice shouting "Write down all
you see, and send it to the seven churches of
Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea". I
turned to see who had spoken to me, and I saw Jesus, full of glory. His face was
like the sun shining with all its force. He said to me "Do not be afraid.
It is I, the First and the Last. I am the Living One"
Jesus, Living One, we praise and adore you, Lord
Recording
Reflection on the above Bible readings: John's words about the Word are ideal food for thought in these days after the birth of the Word-made-flesh
-----------------------------
HK has just had its warmest Christmas for 30 years .... there was
absolutely no use dreaming of a White Christmas!
--------------------------------------
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 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, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
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Merry Christmas! I wish all dear readers the peace of Christmas right through 2019!
Wed Dec 26
Good King Wenceslas with lyrics - a famous Dec 26 Day story about helping the poor
Report in local HK
Catholic paper The Kung Ka Pao about the Home of Mercy and other
works by the Community of Sant' Egidio
Pope calls for more sharing and giving
--------------------------------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
Earth rise over our moon
The US Postal Service issued a stamp commemorating the Apollo 8 flight
around
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Feast of St Stephen - THE STORY OF STEPHEN:
Acts 6.8-15: One
of the seven deacons, Stephen,
was filled with grace and power. He began to do many miracles. A group of Jews
tried to beat Stephen in a debate. But they could not win, because the Holy
Spirit was guiding Stephen in his speech. The group then got some men to falsely
accuse Stephen of being disloyal to Moses and to God. The group had Stephen
arrested and brought before a meeting of the religious leaders. At the meeting,
false witnesses accused Stephen of speaking against Moses and the Law.
Jesus, please protect people who are accused by false witnesses
Recording of this reading
Acts 7.1-54: The
meeting of religious leaders had falsely accused Stephen
of being disloyal to Moses. So
Stephen gave a long speech, full of loyalty to Moses. Then he made a stinging
attack on the leaders: "You stubborn people, with your pagan hearts and
pagan ears. You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors
did. Your ancestors killed the prophets who foretold the coming of the Just One.
You have gone further: you have killed the Just One himself". When the
leaders heard these words, they were very angry and wanted to kill Stephen.
Jesus, Just One from heaven, please don't let me resist the Holy Spirit. Holy
Spirit of God, please increase your influence in my life
Recording
Acts
7.55-58: Stephen,
filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up and saw the glory of God, and Jesus
standing at God's right hand. "I can see heaven thrown open", he said,
"and Jesus standing at the right hand of God". At this, the religious
leaders at the meeting covered their ears with their hands. They sent Stephen
out of the city and stoned him. The false witnesses (who were required to throw
the first stones) put down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Paul.
Recording
Acts
7.59- 8.3: As they were stoning him, Stephen
prayed "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit". Then he knelt down and prayed
"Lord, do not hold this sin against them". Then he died. Paul entirely
approved of the killing. That day a bitter persecution started against the
church in Jerusalem and everyone except the apostles fled to the countryside.
Paul began working for the destruction of the church. He went from house to
house arresting men and women and sending them to prison
Jesus, thank you for the example of Stephen who, like yourself, forgave those
who were killing him
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
Stephen's extraordinary forgiveness of Saul surely had something to do with the
deradicalization of Saul. A powerful lesson for today's radicalized world
-------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
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 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, 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
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.
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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
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ .