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
This
website's anti-drug campaign saves people from going to prison in HK
See & share inmates'
letters! How campaign began
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& shame
JesusTower
GoodNewsForPoor
Dr
Jesus RicciCenter
China8
Tues Oct 15
Things are so bad in HK these days that I am becoming more and more convinced that the most useful thing I can do is spend a bit of time in a church each day .... asking God to move the govt to be willing to engage in Nelson Mandela type dialogue with enemies ... asking God to stop protesters from using violence .... asking God to help the police do a better job *** Effort to split China will result in crushed bodies - Xi Jinping
Can you see any difference in these two reports? Now TV driver 'beaten in police station stairwell'
and Now TV driver
"taken in for his own safety"
Animal protesters attack woman who disagreed with them - see
video at
this link
ICAC
revelations against Chinese donor
China
and Catholicism: an unhappy marriage
My article in today's Ming Pao newspaper has the topic: I am a protesters' leader - one million views! It's on Ming Pao website - click "Australian in HK". Text without recording
Amazon Synod: Day
6
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Jeremiah
18-20: Some officials decided to get rid of
Jeremiah.
They did not want to listen to his message any more.
"Come on,", they said, "let us make a case against
him." Jeremiah prayed to God:
"Lord, you know that people are plotting against me.
Please help me and keep me safe." One of the Temple priests had Jeremiah beaten
and put in stocks for a day near the Temple. Again Jeremiah prayed to God:
"You have seduced me, Lord.
You have told me to proclaim a harsh message for the people. This has made me a
laughing-stock.
Being your messenger has caused me insult all the day long. At one stage I even thought of not speaking
your message any more.
But then I felt a fire burning in my heart. I could not stop thinking of you. I just had to speak your message."
Lord, please increase my
love for you. Please give me more courage to speak your message to my
family, friends and people I meet
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
146: My soul, give
praise to the Lord.
I will praise the Lord all my days. Put no trust in
princes,
in mortal men in whom there is no help. Take their breath, they
return to clay
and their plans that day come to nothing. They are happy who are
helped by Jacob's God,
whose hope is in the Lord our God, who alone made heaven
and earth,
the seas and all they contain. It is he who gives
bread to the hungry,
the Lord, who sets prisoners free. It is the Lord who
gives sight to the blind,
who raises up those who are bowed down. It is the Lord who
protects the stranger
and upholds the widow and orphan. It is the Lord who
loves the just
but thwarts the path of the
wicked. The Lord will reign for
ever,
Zion's God, from age to age.
Lord, please increase my trust
and faith in you
Listen
Galatians
5.1-6:
When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain
free.
Stand firm then and do not return to a life of slavery to Jewish Law. As a Christian, it doesn't matter if you are
circumcised or not.
What matters is faith that is put into loving action
Jesus, help people whose lives are being
damaged by unreasonable religious laws
Listen
Matthew
1.18-25:
This is how Jesus came to be born.
His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph. But before they lived together,
Mary became pregnant by the power of the Holy
Spirit. An angel appeared
to Joseph in a dream
and said "Joseph,
descendant of David,
do not be afraid to live with Mary as your wife".
Her baby has been conceived by the power of the Holy
Spirit.
She will give birth to a son.
You must name him 'Jesus'
('God saves')
because he will save his people from their sins." Joseph took Mary
to his home as his wife.
She gave birth to a son, Jesus.
Dear
Jesus, Son of God, son of Mary, step-son of Joseph,
please help me understand how you are the Saviour of the world
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: These days the words of Psalm 146 have special meaning for HK people facing threats on all sides: "Lord, thwart the path of the wicked"
------------------------------
Kindergarten is back: Finance committee elects head amid chaotic scenes
-------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia,
Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent, N America
Jesus,
today, Tuesday,
please bless the people of
South
Asia
And praying for
prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 15th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Heilongjiang
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 15th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Zimbabwe
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon Oct 14
As I came home after Mass yesterday morning, I stopped at Kowloon
Central Post Office to collect mail from my post box. Post office has been badly
vandalised - broken windows etc. My attention was caught by one particular piece
of writing in English on the wall - in large letters: "An unjust law is no
law at all" .... referring to the anti-mask law. But the saying is from
Saint Augustine who I don't think would approve of being quoted by vandals! ***
Multiple MTR lines closed
*** Wild
animals on rage again ***
What
May 4th Movement tellS us: listen to the people
Article
by Prince Charles (!) for canonisation of John
Henry Newman
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Jeremiah
18: The Lord told Jeremiah to go to the house of
the potter. At the potter's house, Jeremiah watched the
potter working.
Sometimes a vessel he was making wasn't shaped properly.
So the potter would take the clay and start again
and shape the clay into a new vessel. Then the Lord told Jeremiah:
"The House of Israel is clay, I am the potter.
I keep on trying to form Israel into a holy nation."
Lord, you are the potter, we
are the clay - the work of your hands.
Please mould us into what you want us to become
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
145: I will give you glory, O God my king.
I will bless your name day after day. The Lord is great, worthy of all praise.
His greatness cannot be measured. Age to age shall proclaim your works,
shall speak of your splendor and glory. The Lord is kind and full of compassion,
slow to anger, abounding in love. How good is the Lord to all,
compassionate to all his creatures. All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,
and tell all the world of your love. The Lord is faithful in all his words
and loving in all his deeds. The Lord supports all who fall
and raises all who are bowed down. The eyes of all creatures look to you
and you give them their food each day. The Lord is close to all who call him,
who call on him from their hearts. Let the whole world bless the Lord's holy
name,
for ever, for ages unending.
Thank you, Lord, for your love.
Thank you for your love
01
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
Listen
John
20-21: Jesus did many other things. If all of them were written down, so many books would be needed
that no library could hold them all. This book has been written to help
you believe that Jesus is the Saviour, the Son of God. Through your
faith in Jesus, may you have eternal life
Jesus, Son of God, thank you for John's
Gospel. May more and more people know you and love you
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings: 
Beautiful song based
on today's reading from Jeremiah (... + idea from Galatians!)
-------------------------
I
recently saw an article about a famous musician
which had the words to the effect "he was instrumental
in persuading the council to change its policy"!
--------------------
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 14th of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Jilin
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 14th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Ethiopia
And praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
-----------------------
----------------------
Sun Oct 13
This video is a "must watch": Elderly
woman cleans up roadblocks ***
The
wild animals were in my neighbourhood again yesterday afternoon (... plenty
of reporters, but no police .... ???) ***
Shops blackmailed into funding
protests
Plan B: Let Wen
Jiabo become governor of HK? 01
02
03
Beijing
monitoring Chinese Australians
Amazon Synod: In
a word
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Sunday 28
2 Kings 5:
Naaman was an army commander for the
king of Aram.
Naaman enjoyed success and favor, but he was a leper. He heard about Elisha and the king sent him to
Elisha
with gifts of gold, silver and garments to request healing. When Naaman reached Elisha's house,
Elisha sent him a message: "Bathe 7 times in the Jordan River." At first Naaman was angry at this message,
having expected Elisha to see and heal him personally. But then he humbly bathed 7 times in the
Jordan
and his flesh became clean once more. Elisha declined Naaman's gifts.
But after Naaman left Elisha, Elisha's servant Gehazi
caught up with Naaman and deceitfully obtained some silver. Elisha confronted Gehazi about this
and Gehazi became a leper.
Dear God, please heal everyone
who has leprosy
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
98: Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked
wonders.
His right hand has brought salvation. The Lord has made known his salvation.
He has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love for the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the
salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord all the earth, ring out your joy. Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp,
with the sound of music. Let the sea, the world and all peoples
acclaim the King, the Lord. Let the rivers clap their hands
and the hills ring out their joy at the presence of the Lord, for he comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with fairness.
Lord,
may all peoples in all countries know your love and goodness
Listen
2
Timothy 2.2-9:
You have heard
everything I teach in public. Hand it on to reliable people so that they
in turn will be able to teach others. Put up with your share
of difficulties like a good soldier of Christ Jesus, like an athlete who
keeps all the rules, like a hard-working farmer. Remember the Good News
that I carry: "Jesus Christ risen from the dead, sprung from the race
of David". On account of this Good
News I am chained up like a criminal.
But no-one can chain up the Good News
Jesus, help people who
are in prison on account of the Good News
Listen
Luke
17.11-19: On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus entered a village where 10 lepers came
to meet him.
They stood at a distance and called out "Jesus, Master, take pity on us!"
Jesus said to them "Go and show yourselves to the priests".
As they went away, their leprosy disappeared.
Seeing that he was healed, one of them turned back praising God at the
top of his voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him.
This made Jesus say "Were not all 10 healed? Where are the 9
others?"
Jesus, please don't let me forget to say "thank you" when someone helps me
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Let's try to improve at saying "thank you" when someone does something for us .... and especially when we have meals - to remember Who programmed the food we eat
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian, Chinese, English, and
Spanish
Daniel Daring: The wondrous deeds of God (Chinese text is below English text)
-------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------
Tourist
numbers to HK from most countries are way down ... because of the chaos ....but
tourists from the Philippines are as usual .... because .... HK hotel prices and
airfares are so low that special low-cost tours are attracting customers!
------------------------------
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 13th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Jiangxi
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 13th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Mali
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
-----------------------
----------------------
Sat Oct 12
I
was at Lai Chi Kok men's prison from 11am to 6.30pm yesterday .... and met my
oldest ever drug mule - an 85 (!) year old European man recruited/tricked to
bring drugs to Hong Kong. Care shown to him by CSD hospital staff (all trained
nurses) most impressive
This is the sort of thing that can save
HK: Marathon talks turn tears to cheers at Chinese U
God
bless him! Ethiopian prime minister wins
Nobel Peace Prize
Half
of people on death row in Malaysia
are foreigners
Amazon Synod: Day
4
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Jeremiah
16-17: The Lord will bring back Israel's exiles,
back to the land he gave to our ancestors. Lord, my strength, my stronghold,
all the nations will come to you
and acknowledge that you alone are God in all the earth.
Let all the peoples praise you,
O God, let all the peoples praise you
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
144: Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
who gives me strength for every situation. He is my love, my fortress.
He is my stronghold, my savior. To you, O God, will I sing a new song,
you who so often rescued David your servant. Happy the people whose God is the
Lord.
Please continue to bless your people, Lord. Let our sons flourish like saplings
grown tall and strong from their youth;
our daughters graceful as columns,
adorned as though for a palace.
Let our crops and stock be blessed.
May there be no sound of weeping on our streets.
Lord, please help us love and
honor you every day.
Don't let us ever forget your love
Listen
Galatians
3.26-28:
Through faith in Christ Jesus, you are
children of God.
When you were baptized, you entered into a special relationship of
friendship with Christ. This relationship cancels out old labels like
Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. These old labels have
been replaced by a new one hanging around your heart: Made in Christ
Jesus, help me better understand our
relationship
Listen
John
21.15-17: After they had eaten, Jesus said to Peter
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter answered "Yes
Lord, you know I love you". Jesus said to him "Feed my
lambs". A second time Jesus asked him "Simon, son
of John, do you love me?" He replied "Yes Lord, you know I love
you".
Jesus said to him "Look after my sheep". Then he asked a third time "Simon, son of
John, do you love me?" An unhappy Peter replied "Lord, you know
everything. You know I love you". Jesus said "Feed my
sheep"
Jesus, you know I love you. Increase my
love
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: My comment on above Gospel
---------------------------
When I got back to Jordan from a prison visit around 7pm
last night, there was something to make me smile: traffic lights working again
at the corner of Nathan Road and Jordan Road after 4 days of no lights. They
looked so beautiful!
------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent. & N
America
Jesus,
today, Saturday,
please bless the people of Central
& North America
And
praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 12th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Jiangsu
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 12th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Guinea-Bissau
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
Fri Oct 11
Earlier this week at a women's prison, an officer (who has a teenage son) broke down in tears as she discussed the current situation in HK .... pointing to my Cross and asking "where is He?" .... to which I replied that just as the parents of people in prison are not responsible for their sons and daughters crimes .... so God is not responsible for evil things done when we misuse our free will. But the woman's anxiety is shared by millions of HK people: "the future looks bleak for us and our children". One thing we can do is spend more time in prayer ... and often use the words of Psalms 140-143, below.
HK
Journalists' Association - appeal for Indonesian journalist whose
right eye was destroyed by a police projectile
The collapse of democracy in
HK is the story of British betrayal
Amazon Synod: Day
3 *** Most
Amazon bishops support ordination of married men to tackle priest shortage
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Jeremiah 15:
Alas, my mother, for you gave me birth
to be a man of strife and dissension for everyone. I neither lend nor borrow,
yet everyone curses me.
Lord, remember how I suffer insult for your sake. When I heard your word, I devoured
it.
Your word was my delight and the joy of my heart
for you called me to speak your word.
Lord, please increase my love
for your word, my love for the Bible
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
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
Galatians
2.16-20:
What makes us God's friends is not obedience
to the Law,
but faith in Jesus Christ. I have been crucified with Christ, and I live
now,
not with my own life, but with the life of Christ who lives in me. The life I now live in this body, I live in
faith: faith in the Son of God who loved me and who sacrificed himself for
my sake
Jesus, help me understand how you live in me,
and I live in you
Listen
John
21.1-14: Jesus also appeared to the disciples at the
Sea of Galilee, when Peter, John and 5 other disciples were fishing. They
had spent all night in their boat, but had caught nothing. In the morning, Jesus stood on the shore,
though the disciples did not recognize him. He called out "Lower your
net on the right side of the boat". Immediately the net filled with fish. John
realized that the man on the shore was Jesus. John said to Peter "It
is the Lord", and they returned to the shore, which was only about
100 meters away. The net had 153 big fish, but did not break. Jesus had prepared some bread. He also had
some fish cooking on a charcoal fire. He said "Come and have
breakfast".
Jesus, Risen Lord, without you, no fish. With
you, 153 fish. Please help me be more aware of your presence in my life
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: People who have a strong love for the Bible (Jeremiah) also have more trust in God's rescuing power (Psalm) ... and try to live like Jesus (Galatians) .... and are more open to the idea of trying something extra/different (Gospel)
-------------------------
Last night I attended the weekly canteen meal with homeless
people ....about 40 of them. About half of them sleep at McDonald's (God bless
McD's for their compassion!) and the other half sleep in parks and under
bridges. One group uses Kowloon Park as a base during the day and until the
gates are closed at midnight ...then they shift to McD's...... but yesterday
afternoon the
park was closed at 4.30pm because of a nearby protest ... so the homeless
were doubly homeless!
-------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid: S.
America
Sat: Cent, N. America
Jesus,
today, Friday,
please bless the people of South
America
And praying for
prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 11th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Hubei
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 11th of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of Eritrea
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
----------------------------
Thu Oct 10
When
I returned to Jordan after 3 hours yesterday morning at Lai King young women's
prison, I was sad to see that the intersection of Nathan Rd and Jordan Rd was
still a scene of chaos without traffic lights ... and without police directing
traffic. But last night when I went for a walk I was pleased to see 5 (!)
policemen on duty .... and several others were minding an intersection further
down Nathan Rd near Kowloon Central Post Office. Only last night when I checked
the news did I realise that 250 sets of
traffic lights had been vandalised last weekend .... road safety not a
concern of the vandals
MTR:
12,000 turnstiles, 800 ticket machines, 900 CCTV cameras, 40
elevators and 70 roller shutters were vandalised last long weekend - see
this report
A
33 year old Ukraine woman in Tai Lam women's prison mailed me a photo of the
Nigerian man who tricked her on FB to bring drugs from Addis Ababa to Hong Kong.
I put the photo in www.images.google.com
and up came many reports, one of which - this
one - I have printed and posted to the woman. Click "translate" to
see English version. Seems that the woman's family/friends have been most active
in naming and shaming the Nigerian.
South Africa's "60 Minutes" - Special
Assignment - Documentary
on Human Trafficking - the story of a young South African woman sentenced to
25 years in prison in Thailand - she was on her way to HK
--------------
Chris McDonnell
Young Mr
Newman
But what of the early years?
-------------------------
The Book Blog: 4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Jeremiah 12-14: Lord, you are in our midst, we are called by your name.
Please give us help and strength in this time of trouble. Wherever I go I see sadness and
despair.
Our land has been invaded by the foreign soldier. If I go into the countryside,
I see men killed by the sword. If I go into the city,
I see people sick with hunger. O God, you are our hope.
For your name's sake, please forgive us and help us.
Lord, please help people
whose countries
are under occupation by foreign soldiers
Recording
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
Recording
Galatians 2.11-14:
Not long after this, when Peter came to
Antioch, I opposed him
to his face, since he was in the wrong. He had been accustomed to eating with
non-Jews, but when some friends of James arrived, people who insisted that
all believers should be circumcised, he kept away from the non-Jews. When I saw that Peter was not respecting the
true meaning of the Good News, I said to him in front of everyone
"You have no right to make non-Jews adopt Jewish customs"
Jesus, help me understand that it's sometimes
ok to criticize top Christian leaders
Listen
John 20.21-29: That same Sunday evening, the doors were locked in the room where the disciples had gathered, for fear of the religious leaders. But Jesus appeared and stood before them, saying "Peace be with you". He showed them his hands and his side and said "As the Father sent me, so I am sending you". Then he breathed on them, saying "Receive the Holy Spirit". Thomas, one of the 12 apostles, was not there that night. When the other disciples said they had seen the Lord, he replied "Unless I see and touch his wounded body, I refuse to believe".
Eight days later, the group was again in the
same house, with the doors locked. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus again appeared and stood before them
saying "Peace be with you". Then he said to Thomas "Put
your hand into my side. Doubt no longer, but believe". Thomas
replied "My Lord and my God!"
Jesus said "You believe because you can
see me. Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet believe"
Jesus, my Lord and my God, I believe in you.
Help me live and grow and die in your friendship
01
02
Reflection on the above Bible readings: At the Consecration of the Mass, when the priest holds up the host, it's good to say in our hearts "Jesus" as we look at the host. Then when the priest kneels, it's good to say the words of Thomas: "My Lord and My God". Same for elevation of the chalice ....
---------------
The
prison I went to yesterday morning is a few minutes walk from Lai King fire
station. As I passed the fire station on my way home I had to smile at what I
saw: a water truck, cleaning the gutter and footpath .... spraying water towards
the fire station!
I could almost hear the fire engines talking among themselves .... "how
dare that little squirt fire water at us! Wait till we meet on the road some day
... we'll give it something to drink about"
--------------------
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 10th 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 10th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Guinea
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the
week:
Jesus, today, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
----------------------------
Wed Oct 9
Yesterday I spent 8 hours at Lo Wu women's prison .... on the way
home from which I noticed that the traffic lights in Nathan Road (as in other
parts of HK) are still out of action ....like the police (nowhere to be seen).
It's almost as if the police (under direction from govt) are letting things
deteriorate in order to discredit the protest movement and/or to hasten the
advent of emergency rule from Beijing. Check the traffic chaos photo here.
And see yesterday's menu, below, for more re the traffic lights
These extraordinary words "One Hong
Kong-headquartered syndicate operating in Australia has 200 shore-party members"
are in this most important article Australia's
biggest heroin bust
Kenyan
Drug Lord arrested in India
Pope:
"Don't kick Holy Spirit out of the Amazon
Synod"!
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Jeremiah 8-11:
Jeremiah said sorrowfully: My people have forgotten God.
My people ignore God.
My people follow false gods.
My people have no time for the real God. Lord, you know how weak we are.
Correct us gently, Lord.
Correct us gently, Lord,
correct us gently
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
Listen
Galatians
2.1-9: 14 years after that first visit, I again went
to Jerusalem,
with Barnabas and Titus. I explained to the Christian leaders how I had
been proclaiming the Good News to non-Jews. James, Peter and John shook hands with us as a
sign of partnership.
We were to preach to the non-Jews, and they to the Jews
Jesus, please help all Christians to avoid disunity
Listen
John
20.11-18: Peter and John went home. Mary Magdalene
remained at the tomb, crying. When she looked inside the tomb, she saw two
angels in white. She also saw Jesus standing there, though she did not
recognize him. Jesus said "Woman, why are you
crying?". Mary thought he was the gardener so she said to him
"If you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him". Jesus said "Mary" and she recognized
him. Jesus then said "I will ascend to my Father". Mary went and told the disciples all she had
seen and heard
Jesus, please bless people who are crying at
funerals today. May awareness of your presence bring them peace and
strength for the days ahead
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: The right brains of Peter and John said "let's go home ... no use staying here ... nothing we can do". The left brain of Mary Magdalene said "something tells me to stay a bit longer"
---------------------------
Recently in a local market I saw something I hadn't seen
for decades ... something which many younger people have probably never seen: a
man rolling his
own cigarette! (I am not promoting cigarette smoking ...it's like taking
cancer tablets)
-------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E.Asia, Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent, N America
Jesus,
today, Wednesday,
please bless the people of East
Asia
And praying for
prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 9th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Henan
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 9th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Central
African Republic
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
--------------------------------
Usually I delete each menu after one week. It can still be accessed on "Archives" (top of this page). But because the menu of Oct 8 has special relevance to HK at the moment, I will not delete it
-------------------------------
Tues Oct 8
The collapse of HK is continuing at exponential speed: Vandals
bring HK to standstill.
Yesterday before midday as I crossed the intersection of Nathan Road and Jordan
Road to join two very special friends for a Yum Cha, I noticed the traffic and
pedestrian lights were not working ... with pedestrians running the gauntlet
between buses, trucks and cars to cross the road .... and vehicles blasting
horns trying to force their way through the intersection .... with not a few
near-misses. I actually made a video of a police car going through the
intersection, but not stopping to help the situation.
More than an hour later when I returned to the same place, after the Yum Cha,
the situation was just as chaotic. So, I went home, got my trusty bush hat, and
went back to the intersection as a volunteer traffic guide .... for which, as
the afternoon went on, many dozens of bus drivers and other drivers waved a
thank you sign to me as they went past. Many pedestrians gave me bottles of
water ... from a few of which I took a few mouthfuls before putting the bottles
at an crossing island.
After about 30 minutes a police car stopped and several policeman told me to stop. I said I'd be happy to stop if they would do the job. They asked me to get in their car. I declined and walked to a footpath. Then I went home for a drink and toilet break. Then went back. Police still not helping. So I went back to work. Having a bus licence (in Australia and formerly in HK) I understand traffic and felt in no danger. Just got tired after another 90 minute stint. With a cramp in my left foot. So I went again to the footpath. Providential timing. Within a minute another police car came and two polite officers and I had the same conversation as above. They told me to go. I said I would go if they would do their job. My left foot and tiredness decided on a trip home, where I had a shower (very hot weather) and rest.
About 6.30pm I went back to the intersection ....as part of a prayer walk ...and was pleased to see 4 (!) traffic policeman on the job. But when I returned around 7pm they were just leaving ....walking away from a dangerous situation. So I ask myself, as on last night's menu: why are police not on the job? Why are they letting vandals have hours of freedom to wreck MTR stations and smash shops? Some people say the authorities want to see HK in chaos so that the PLA can come in and restore order and rule will be from Beijing. To this end, some people even say that some of the destruction is being done by undercover policemen .... maybe from the Mainland since some don't speak HK Cantonese.
Some people say that while the vast majority of protesters are peaceful, there's a small minority of radical vandals whose aim is anarchy. No mainstream media will talk much about this, but in private many people feel that former legislator "Long Hair" Leung Kwok Hung is one of the masterminds of the destruction that "spontaneously" breaks out at the same time at so many locations. Wikipedia's main article (with it's many links) shows he was/is a Trotskyist, anarchist and revolutionary Marxist.
So, the vandalising is maybe coming from more than one source, but it is turning one of the safest and most beautiful cities in the world into a place of destruction and despondency. I felt absolutely gutted last night as I walked down Nathan Road from Jordan Road to Waterloo Road, seeing the trail of destruction ...especially my beloved Kowloon Central Post Office whose doors and windows have been smashed and the front of the building covered in "campaign signs". And I noticed many groups of mainly young people in black carrying umbrellas (on a fine night) heading towards Mong Kok ....trouble brewing there.
Violence just makes things worse. And this is a lesson that the HK government is just not getting. It caused the original peaceful protests (by its crazy extradition amendment) and then by ignoring the peaceful protesters, the govt bred violence, bred radical vandals ..some of whom didn't need much breeding .... they were waiting for a chance to destroy HK. The govt has handed HK to them on a petrol bomb.
Is this all a bad dream? If only. But today is another day .... and how will people get to work and school with the MTR badly damaged and under threat after four nights of destruction (Frid, Sat, Sun, public holiday yesterday for Chung Yeung Festival)? God, please help HK get out of this mess! Please thwart the plans of the wicked!
New
FB to try to stop women from Thailand
bringing drugs to HK: Thailand Drug
Trade
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Jeremiah
7: At the gate of the Temple in Jerusalem,
Jeremiah proclaimed the word of the Lord: "You people of Judah who come here to worship,
amend your behavior and actions,
and then I, the Lord, will meet you here in this Temple. Do not exploit the stranger, the orphan and the widow.
Do not follow alien gods, do not break the Commandments. If you don't care about bad behavior
and yet keep on coming to my Temple for worship,
your worship is useless
and you are turning this Temple into a robbers' den. This nation refuses to listen to the Lord.
Sincerity has vanished since worship and behavior are not
related."
Lord, please help me "practise
what I preach"
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
1.11-24: The Good News I preach is not a human message.
It is something I received from Jesus Christ. I used to persecute the church, but then God
called me to follow Jesus. I am a one-time persecutor who is now
preaching the faith I had previously tried to destroy. When I visited Jerusalem three years after my
conversion, the believers gave glory to God for what he had done for me
Jesus, please turn more persecutors into
preachers!
Listen
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
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings: Today's Gospel reminds us
that in the midst of death and destruction and dejection, God plants seeds
of .... deliverance and delight
------------------------------
Australian
protesters using HK tactics!
-------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia,
Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent, N America
Jesus,
today, Tuesday,
please bless the people of
South
Asia
And praying for
prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 8th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Heilongjiang
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 8th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Sierra Leone
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
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
Dec 2018 - Jan 2019 trip to Malaysia
June 2019: my anti-drug campaign featured in The Malaysia Drug Trade
--------------------
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
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ .