V2Catholic.com A voice for the
poor Edited
by HK prison chaplain
Fr John Wotherspoon
O.M.I . 胡頌恆神父
jdwomi@gmail.com
Links, Search
& Archives Imitating
Pope
Francis www.familyhk.org
This
website's anti-drug campaign saves people from going to prison in HK
See & share inmates'
letters! How campaign began
HK
Indon
Kenya
Malaysia 
Nigeria 
Ph 
SA 
S.Amer
Thai 
Tz 
Ug 
EU
HK:how
long prison for trafficking?
AsylumSeekerHK
Name
& shame
JesusTower
GoodNewsForPoor
Dr
Jesus RicciCenter
China8
Tues Nov 12
This is sickening: Man in a critical condition after being set on fire
.... as is most of the news here. My
big fear: if the govt continues to refuse to dialogue with the protesters, the
protesters will continue to raise the level of violence. Jesus,
please move the CE's heart to imitate Nelson Mandela whose dialogue with his
enemies saved his country from civil war .... and please move the protesters to
imitate Mahatma Gandhi who was the world's most successful protester....yet he
never used violence
My article in today's Ming Pao newspaper has the topic: "Free HK" - from vandalism! It's on Ming Pao website - click "Australian in HK". Text without recording
This
6 min video gets me to reflect: It was made not by chance ... but by a Loving Creator! Anatomy
of the Human Ear
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Daniel
14: In Babylon there was a temple with an idol
named Bel
to which lots of food and drink were offered each day. 70 priests and their families used to
eat the food each night,
having entered the temple by a secret door. The king believed Bel ate the food.
Daniel told him that an idol cannot eat anything. The 70 priests called for Daniel to be
executed
if he could not prove the idol was not eating the food. Daniel got his servants to spread ashes over
the temple floor.
Next morning he showed the king the footprints in the ashes. The king had the 70 priests and their families
executed.
The king had Bel destroyed.
Lord, please help people turn
away from lifeless idols and serve you, the Creator of the world
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
27: The Lord is my light and my help, whom shall
I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life, before whom shall I shrink? Though
an army encamp against me, even then would I trust. There is one thing I ask of the Lord, for this
I long:
to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. It is your face, O Lord, that I seek. Hide not
your face.
I am sure I will see your goodness in the land of the living. Hope in the Lord, hold firm and take heart.
Hope in the Lord!
Lord, you are my light and my
help.
I will always praise you.
Listen
Ephesians
6.18-24:
Pray all the
time, asking for what you need.
Pray in the Spirit on every possible occasion. Never tire of praying.
Pray for me that I may proclaim the Good News boldly. Grace and eternal life to everyone who loves
our Lord Jesus Christ
Jesus, help me to put Paul's teaching into
practice in my life
Listen
Matthew
9.27-31:
As Jesus walked along, two men who had become
blind
followed after him calling out "Son of David, please help
us". Jesus asked them "Do you believe I can
help you?"
They said "Yes we do". Then Jesus touched their eyes and said
"Your request made in faith is granted". Immediately they were able to see again.
They told everyone they met what Jesus had done for them.
Jesus,
heal my friend (..name..) who is blind
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Jesus, please increase my love for prayer, my commitment to prayer ....and please increase my faith in your healing love
------------------------------
I
am now attending a four day O.M.I. in service meeting at Sheung Shui in the New
Territories. Meeting visitors from Australia have been taken aback by the
violence in Hong Kong ... and by the difficulties HK people face in getting from
A to B
-------------------------------
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 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, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon Nov 11 Remembrance Day
101 years ago today, at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, World War 1 officially ended, after a conflict that involved 65 million soldiers in battle, left nearly 10 million killed, 21 million wounded, nearly seven million civilian deaths. May the Good Lord help our world avoid war.
Not forgetting that the Treaty of Versailles which end World War 1 was a major cause of World War 2 (because it treated Germany so harshly) and was the reason for China's young leaders turning away from the West and turning to Marxism/Russia (because China also was treated so badly - see May 4 Movement)
Much
vandalism took place in various parts of HK yesterday .... at MTR stations and
shopping centres .... with one large restaurant totally trashed as helpless
staff watched on. See
video at this SCMP report. Meanwhile the govt continues to refuse to dialogue ... unlike
Nelson Mandela who sat down with enemies and saved his nation from civil war. HK
desperately needs a Mandella. (Update: as a media student, I cannot
fail to notice the pro-protester anti-police bias in so much of this morning's
HK media ... a bias which is having an unhealthy effect on younger HK students.
Media responsibility???)
V.I.P: Expect a government
reshuffle
Yesterday
morning I watched this
beautiful Songs of Praise video featuring the Salvation Army.
Video has words of a woman from South Africa might help people who are
thinking about ministry
Pope
to visit South Sudan next year
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Daniel
13: A beautiful woman named Susanna
was condemned to death on a false charge of immorality. God stirred Daniel's heart to help Susanna.
Daniel confronted Susanna's two accusers, two elderly Jewish men. Daniel had the two men separated.
He then asked them individually where the alleged crime took place. One of them said "under a mastic
tree."
The other said "under an oak tree." The people then realized the men were lying.
The people praised God for giving such wisdom to Daniel. Susanna was freed.
The two men were executed, as required by the Law.
Lord, please help people who
have been falsely accused of crimes
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
24-26: The Lord's is the earth and all its peoples.
It is the Lord who is Creator of the universe. May all hearts open their doors to the Lord.
Let him enter, the king of glory. Lord I hope in you all the day long.
Forgive my sins and help me walk in your truth.
God my savior, teach me your
way of truth
Listen
Ephesians
6.10-17:
To resist the Devil's tactics, put on God's
armor: the belt of truth, the breastplate of integrity,
the shoes of eagerness to spread
the Good News of peace, the shield of faith,
the helmet of salvation, the sword of God's word.
Jesus, help me put on these six pieces
of armor
Listen
Matthew
9.18-26:
A prayer hall official came to Jesus and said
"My daughter has just died. Please come and lay your hand on her
and she will come back to life". As Jesus and his friends were following the
official to his home,
a woman who had a hemorrhage for 12 years
came up behind Jesus and touched his clothing.
The woman had said to herself
"If I can even touch his clothing, I will be healed". Jesus knew what she was doing and said to her
"My daughter, your faith has healed you".
Instantly she was healed. When Jesus arrived at the official's house
he saw a crowd of people crying loudly. Jesus said to them "Get out of the house.
The little girl is asleep, not dead". The crowd laughed at
Jesus.
After the crowd had gone outside, Jesus went inside.
He took the little girl by the hand, and she stood up.
News of what had happened spread all round the district.
Jesus, please increase my faith
in your power to heal the sick and raise the dead
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Never once did Jesus say "No" to a request for the healing of a sick person
-------------------------
The Sunday gathering for the poor at Yau Ma Tei Catholic Primary
School is always a happy experience, but more so yesterday afternoon when a
singing group from Peng Chau entertained the 300 guests .... and volunteers
included not only the local parish St VdP group but also 6 young Oblate priests
who are due to attend an in service program in HK starting today
--------------------
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 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, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
-----------------------
----------------------
Sun Nov 10
Yesterday morning I took part in another interview, this
time mainly about the situation in HK. My thinking continues to go along the
lines: we need someone from outside to help us ... someone like this
man
If you know anyeone who could help me with some Vietnamese
translation, please email me: jdwomi@gmail.com
Beautiful illustration by two woman prisoners in HK:
I used to think there were 100,000 galaxies. But from this video (which is not easy to follow ... gets better as you go along) I learnt there are 200 billion galaxies! (our sun is one of billions of suns in one galaxy: The Milky Way). The universe is so HUGE! The Guy who set it up must really be Someone! Video says how Belgian priest's conversation in taxi with Einstein led to Einstein meeting Hubble which led to Einstein admitting universe had a beginning ... the Big Bang .... (200 billion UK = 2 billion US)
Drug
mules sentenced by Malawi court
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Sunday 32
Psalms
17-18: Lord, when trouble breaks out on every
side,
please protect and help me. For you are my strength, my rock, my fortress,
my savior.
I love you, Lord who save me because you love me. Lord, you are my lamp who lightens my life.
I will praise you among the nations.
Lord, you are worthy of
all praise
Listen
2
Thessalonians 2.1-17:
Regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ,
don't be deceived by wild speculation. Stand firm in your faith and avoid speculation.
Keep the traditions we taught you, whether by
word of mouth or by letter. May God strengthen you in everything good you
do or say
Jesus, stop people
spreading false information
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Christian faith in the life to come doesn't cause us to retire/retreat from this world, but to try as much as we can to help others know about the life to come
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian, Chinese, English, and
Spanish
Daniel Daring: The hope of Resurrection (with Chinese text below English text)
-------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------
To
revive the tourist industry hit by protest effects, tourist industry is
proposing govt fund tours by local HK people ... in HK. We might be able to get
paid for visiting our own street!?
------------------------------
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 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, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
-----------------------
----------------------
Sat Nov 9
The death of a university student injured at the scene of an
anti-amendment protest will greatly fan the flame of violent protests in HK. One
thing the govt can do is to immediately - as in today! - announce a judicial
inquiry (conducted by 3 judges) that would be broadcast live and would begin
next Monday. Information so far about the incident is not clear ....some
conflicting reports (... feeding the rumour industry) .... the whole thing needs
to be clarified and addressed openly and quickly. May the departed student enjoy
Eternal Life in Heaven and may the Good Lord give consolation and strength to
his dear family. Latest reports about the student's death: RTHK
* HKFP
* SCMP
(Hamilton street not far from my home!)
Well done South Africa! Springbok get heroes' reception back home
Pope urges opportunities for prisoners to reform and reintegrate
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Daniel
8-12: Daniel received many visions from God,
usually after a special time of prayer and fasting. Daniel was given glimpses of the future,
the rise and fall of nations. He also was given to understand what happens
after this life:
"The dead will rise from the grave,
some to everlasting life,
some to everlasting shame. Those who have instructed others in virtue,
will shine like stars for all eternity."
Lord, please help everyone get
to Heaven
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
23: The Lord is my
shepherd, there is nothing I
shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit. He guides me along the right path. He is true
to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff; with these you give me
comfort. You have prepared a banquet for me in the
sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil. My cup is overflowing. Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me
all the days of my life. In the Lord's own house shall I dwell for ever
and ever.
Thank you, Lord, for being my
good shepherd
Listen
Ephesians
6.1-9: Children, be obedient to your parents.
Parents, never drive your children to resentment.
Slaves, respect your employers. Employers, treat your workers fairly
Jesus, please help me treat everyone with
respect
Listen
Matthew
9.14-17: One day John the Baptist's friends asked Jesus
"How come we and the religious leaders fast, but your friends
don't?" Jesus replied
"Fasting is a good thing, and after I have left this world
my friends will fast. But remember that multiplying external prayers
and fasts
without a change of heart is useless. Out of date religious structures need a
drastic overhaul,
not just external plastic surgery."
Jesus, please help me practise
a bit of fasting,
especially each Friday, the day you died
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: May the Good Lord give Pope Francis courage and wisdom to update structures following the Amazon Synod
---------------------------
I was at Lai Chi Kok men's prison for 8 hours yesterday ...
didn't leave till 7.15pm. One good thing about a prison: main entrance never
closes. Staff are on duty 24/7!
------------------------------
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 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, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
Fri Nov 8
In
order to stop drug mules from coming to HK, the skilful team of NoMasMulas
now have a new experimental program: letters from a prisoner were put on the
NMM website, then boosted on FB
... then comments from FB readers were printed and posted back to the
prisoner .... and the prisoner's comments on the comments were then put on FB
.... an ongoing exercise ... like a soap opera ...engaging prisoners and readers
.... attracting an ever-larger audience to spread the message: Don't take drugs
to HK!
Over the past few years, many media teams have been to my home
for interviews. Yesterday morning another team came - from Live
Stream Russia 24! (a 24 hour Russian news TV station). Very interested in
Drug Lords like
this Nigerian in Thailand
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Daniel 7: Once when Daniel was asleep, he had a vision of heaven:
"Thrones were put in place
and one of great age took his seat. His robe was white as snow,
his hair as pure as wool. A thousand thousand waited on him,
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. Then coming on the clouds of heaven
was one like a son of man. On him was conferred glory and kingship,
and people of all nations became his servants. His kingship is eternal.
His empire will never be destroyed."
Jesus, please help me
understand that you are the "Son of Man" whose kingship is eternal
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
22: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
I call to you for help, but day and night you give no reply. I am a worm and not a man.
Everyone who sees me makes fun of me. They taunt me: "He trusted in the
Lord, why doesn't the Lord help him?" Like water I am poured out, my bones no longer
connected.
My throat is parched, my tongue sticks to my jaws. Many evil people attack me.
They make holes in my hands and my feet.
They await my death. They divide my clothing among them,
they throw a dice for my robe. Yet I know Lord, that you are good and
holy.
I know how you heard the cries of our ancestors and you helped them. It was you who took me from the womb
and entrusted me to my mother's breast.
To you I was committed from my birth,
from my mother's womb you have been my God. Lord, I trust in you even now.
I trust you will not scorn my prayer. Even now I praise you as my Creator.
May all the nations know and worship you.
Lord, please help people who
are in big trouble right now,
especially people whose lives are in danger
Listen
Ephesians
5.21-33:
In your families, treat each other as Christ
wants you to:
Wives, in your husbands see Christ the head of the Church.
Husbands, love your wives as Christ loves the Church. When men and women get married, they become
one body.
This sacred action helps us understand the relationship between Christ and
the Church
Jesus, please help husbands and wives to love
each other
the way you love the Church
Listen
Matthew
9.9-13: One day when Jesus was walking past a customs
house
he said to a tax collector named Matthew "Follow me".
Matthew got up and followed Jesus. Matthew invited Jesus and Jesus' friends to a
dinner in his house.
Some tax collectors and "bad" people sat at Jesus' table. Religious leaders saw this and complained to
Jesus' friends
"Why does your master eat with tax collectors and bad people?" Jesus' answer was
"It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick.
Go and think about the Bible words
'What I want is mercy, not sacrifice'.
I have a special concern for rejects and down-and-outs."
Jesus, please help religious
leaders in today's world
to care more about people who are rejected by society
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: When Jesus on the Cross prayed the words of Psalm 22, Mary was standing at the foot of the Cross. For both of them Psalm 22 would have had special significance ("from my mother's womb"...)
-------------------------
What country is always in a hurry? Russia! (... rushing
...)
-------------------------
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 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, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
----------------------------
Thu Nov 7
Yesterday morning after the case of a South American woman at the
High Court, I went to the nearby Kenyan Consulate for a most encouraging meeting
concerning the situation of Kenyan prisoners in HK & Macau
Not
a nice guy ... he has been an advocate of anti-protest violence .... but this is
sad and wrong:
Attack marks darkest day of the
elections - Junius Ho *** Has Han
Zheng ever been to HK? Does he know anything about HK: CE
has tried everything (?) to stop HK
unrest - Han Zheng
This is a most important
article ... not just for Australia:
Australia
could fall apart under climate change. But there is a way out
Highly
recommended by a loyal reader in the UK:
Joan
Chittester and Mary McAleese: the state of women in the Catholic Church
-------------------------
The Book Blog: 4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Daniel 4-6: Some of the king's officials were jealous of Daniel,
so they had him arrested on a false charge and condemned to death. One evening,
Daniel was put into a cave of lions.
The mouth of the cave was sealed with a great stone. In the cave Daniel prayed to God for help,
and God protected Daniel. The next morning the stone was removed.
Daniel walked out unharmed. The king then ordered Daniel's accusers to be put into the cave.
The lions immediately ate them.
Thank you, Lord, for protecting
Daniel.
Thank you, Lord, for so often protecting me
Recording
Psalm 20-21: May the Lord protect and help you,
may he give you your heart's desire
and fulfil every one of your plans. Some trust in chariots or horses,
but we trust in the Lord.
Lord, may our plans and hopes
be acceptable to you.
Please bless our plans
Recording
Ephesians 5.10-20:
Try to discover what the Lord wants of you.
Have nothing to do with the futile works of darkness. Wake up from your sleep, rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you. Be very careful about the sort of life you
live.
Follow your enlightened mind, not your unruly passions. Avoid drunkenness. Instead, be filled with the
Spirit.
Sing prayer songs when you are together, and when you're by yourself, keep
on singing to the Lord in your heart, always giving thanks to God
Jesus, make my heart sing right through the
day
Listen
Matthew
9.1-8: Some people carried a paralyzed man through a
crowd to Jesus.
The man was on a bed. Jesus knew that these people believed he could
help them,
so he said to the paralyzed man "Courage, your sins are
forgiven". Religious leaders in the crowd were
thinking to themselves
that Jesus was wrong to say he could forgive sins. So Jesus said to the leaders: Which is
easier:
to say 'Your sins are forgiven', or to say 'Get up and walk'? Then to prove that he had authority to forgive
sins,
he said to the paralyzed man
"Get up, pick up your bed and go home".
The man got up and went home.
The crowd praised God for what they had seen.
Jesus, please give me more
faith in your power to forgive, your power to heal
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: Jesus, please give us the faith of the paralyzed man's friends!
---------------
At meetings we take minutes but waste
hours!
--------------------
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 7th 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 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, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
----------------------------
Wed Nov 6
Three years ago I wrote this
article about "A-Mei" in Yau Ma Tei. A few days ago I saw
her
again ... she was crying, because her rent is now $17,000 and in the present
economic downturn she can't make enough to even pay the rent. Such injustice by
greedy landlords is one of many social problems feeding the current protest
movement.
Why
Mexico's police "don't stand a chance" against drug cartels
Some photos of me here
as part of the R.AGE team presentation at
the 2019 Kancil Festival in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 25
------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
After the Synod
Recognition that celibacy and the priestly celebration of
the Eucharist are not essential partners is long overdue
-----------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Daniel 2-3: The king of Babylon had a dream
which none of his wise men could interpret. God enabled Daniel to understand the dream.
The king then promoted Daniel and his friends to important jobs. Some time after this, the king built a golden
statue
and everyone was commanded to adore it. The Jewish exiles, including Daniel and his
friends,
refused to adore the statue. Daniel and his friends were condemned to be
burnt to death
in a big furnace. But God protected the four young men
and they walked around unhurt in the
flames. They praised God for his wonderful protection
and called on all creatures to adore the one true God. When the king saw this miracle take place
he cancelled the law for Jews to be killed.
Give thanks to the Lord for he
is good. Let everyone praise the Lord for his love is everlasting
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
19: The heavens proclaim the glory of God,
the starry skies are the work of his hands. The stars can't speak, but they are
God's handwriting.
The sun is God's love shining on the whole world.
The universe is a masterpiece, and so is God's
law
which shines in our hearts.
The precepts of the Lord
enlighten our lives
each day.
The law of the Lord gives joy and wisdom to our hearts. The decrees of the Lord are to be desired more
than gold,
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. But often we are unaware of our
errors.
Lord, please protect us from making mistakes.
Lord, may the words of my mouth
and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you
Listen
Ephesians
5.1-4: Follow Christ by loving as he loved us.
Among you there must be not even a mention of
promiscuity or impurity in any of its forms. There must be no coarseness, or salacious talk
and jokes
- all this is wrong for you
Jesus, help me control my mind and my
tongue
Listen
Matthew
8.23-27: Jesus and his "fisher of men"
friends got into a boat
to cross the lake near Capernaum. Jesus was so tired that he went to sleep in
the boat.
Then a sudden storm caused big waves to lash the boat. Jesus' friends woke him up and said
"Save us, Lord, we are sinking". Jesus stood up, and ordered the wind and sea
to be calm.
Straight away the wind and sea were calm. Jesus' friends said to each other
"Who is this? Even the wind and sea obey
him."
Jesus, please calm the storms
in my life, my family, our world
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: When you are the Creator of the Universe, fire (Daniel) and storms (Gospel) do what you say!
---------------------------
If someone asks me what my job is, I'm tempted to say
"I go to meetings and interviews" to do with my anti-drug campaign: 2
last week, one yesterday afternoon, 2 tomorrow, 1 on Saturday. So long as a bit
of good is done for the campaign, I am willing to say yes to requests
-------------------------
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 6th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Hainan
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, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
--------------------------------
----------------------------
Usually I remove 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 for the time being
-------------------------------
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
Oct 23, 2019: FM988 Breakfast program in Kuala Lumpur at which I was a guest
--------------------
Australian Chinese for
Families Association
Gay marriage: an elephant in the room (by John W)
Video:
What "gay
marriage" did to Massachusetts
同志婚姻自2004年立法後，美國麻省的改變
（ 廣東話附字幕版
Frightening
YouTube reports:
LGBT radical impact
on educational institutions (No.
5); LGBT
infiltrating churches
(No. 6); US corporations massively
supporting LGBT agenda (No. 7). What
has happened in the US is now starting to happen in other places. Some
day our children will ask "why didn't you do more to stop this evil?"
--------------------------------------------
Pope's surprise visit to drug treatment centre
Pope is practising what he preaches: "get out and mix with the poor"
HK
readers might like to join me in praying each day for one group of HK
prison inmates: Sun:
Lo Wu; Mon: C.I.C., Siu Lam, Tai Lam; Tue: Stanley
Wed: Hei Ling Chau Thu: Lantau
Fri: Lai Chi Kok
Sat: Hospitals, Pik Uk & other centres
|
On revolving map: Left click bottom right silver button Left click country Left click state/province ....till you find your city/town ! |
|
Left click this table of flags for details of hits on this main page
|
This website was launched in construction
mode in Hong Kong on November 20, 2011 - the Feast of Christ
the King.
The official launching
was
held on the Gold Coast, Australia, on January 20,
2012.
Map and Flag Counter began Feb 11, 2012. Previous visits 4,932.
Note: counter on this page + Map & Flag Counter record visits only to this
main/index page.
Visits to other pages and to Facebook page are not
recorded.
This site's 2017
statistics.
Thank you for checking this website each day. God bless all readers and bloggers!
Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡
頌 恆 神 父
jdwomi@gmail.com
HK
mobile +852- 67095674
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ .