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
MercyHK
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
China8
SimpleBible
MatteoRicci
Tues Nov 3
I spent yesterday with Simon, my new assistant for social work. A
very full and busy day which included arranging accommodation for a number of
homeless people. The 70 or so homeless people for whom MercyHK is renting rooms
are Simon's special "sheep"
Record
HK$300 million Ice bust - destined for Australia
George Monbiot: England's
response to pandemic now relies on unskilled call centre workers
Freedom of speech does not mean we are allowed to insult other
people, much less insult their religion. France's President Macron is on
dangerous ground glorifying someone killed for insulting The Prophet
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
28. The
loneliness, fear and insecurity experienced by those who feel abandoned by the
system creates a fertile terrain for various "mafias". These
flourish because they claim to be defenders of the forgotten, often by providing
various forms of assistance even as they pursue their criminal interests. There
also exists a typically "mafioso" pedagogy that, by appealing to a
false communitarian mystique, creates bonds of dependency and fealty from which
it is very difficult to break free.
My article in today's Ming Pao newspaper has the topic: Melbourne Cup today .... without spectators!It's on Ming Pao website - click "Australian in HK". Text without recording
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
1
Maccabees 7: Some Jews who were disloyal to Judas joined
with supporters of the new king, Demetrius, to plot the overthrow of
Judas. Nicanor, one of the king's generals, was sent
to defeat Judas
and exterminate the Jews. But when the battle took place, Nicanor
himself died and his army was routed. Once again the land experienced peace
for a
while.
Dear God, please protect us
from people who are disloyal
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
120-121: I call to the Lord in the hour of my
distress:
"Lord save me from people who speak with lying lips". Long enough have I been dwelling with those
who hate peace.
I am for peace, but they are for fighting. I lift up my eyes to the mountains.
From where shall come my help? My help shall come from the Lord
who made heaven and earth. The Lord is our guard and our shade.
Day and night we shall not be afraid. The Lord will guard our going and coming
both now and forever. Lord, please protect us from
danger, day and night
Listen
2
Corinthians 4.8 - 5.1:
We are in difficulties on all sides, but never
cornered.
We see no answer to our problems, but never despair.
Even though our bodies are aging and decaying,
our hearts are renewed day by day. Our troubles seem great now, but they don't
stand comparison with the eternal glory coming soon. When the temporary tent that we live in here on
earth is folded up,
we will move to an everlasting house built by God for us in heaven
Jesus, help me remember Heaven - especially
when life gets tough
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: The
name "Jesus" is powerful
------------------------------
A tip for today's Melbourne
Cup? Maybe No 1 and No 3 .... since on this day in 1946 I was baptised
and 1 & 3 have names connected with water .... while humility does not allow
me to mention No. 17!
-------------------------------
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 3rd
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Gansu
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 3rd of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Burundi
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon Nov
2
ALL SOULS DAY
God bless the energetic workers and volunteers who for a second
day put in extra hours to improve conditions in MercyHK's second hand shop at
191 Temple Street, Jordan .... from putting wheels on stands to make them
mobile .. to processing a flood of newly donated items....which reminds
me: we have asked kind donors to wait till till year before sending any more
items to the shop .... shop is full .... no space left .... so many good people
have donated so many items ... a happy problem!
After Mass yesterday morning I spent much time at the Alhambra Building paying bills for some of the 41 rooms MercyHK is renting for 71 homeless people. Please God this job will soon be done by Simon, whom MercyHK is imploying from today to do social work as my assistant. Welcome to the MercyHK Team, Simon!
Another kind volunteer, "Mr Li", assisting the NGO Voice
for Prisoners, is continuing to help prisoners communicate with their
families. A prisoner send a letter to Mr Li who scans it and sends it to family
by W/App or email. Family then replies by W/App or email and Mr Li prints and
posts their message to the prisoner. A wonderful service, especially for parts
of the world where mail one way can take a month or more .... or like parts of
Europe where post offices for many months would not send mail to HK during
Covid-19 restrictions. God bless you, Mr Li! A report of his work here:
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
27. Paradoxically, we have certain ancestral
fears that technological development has not succeeded in eliminating; indeed,
those fears have been able to hide and spread behind new technologies. Today
too, outside the ancient town walls lies the abyss, the territory of the
unknown, the wilderness. Whatever comes from there cannot be trusted, for it is
unknown, unfamiliar, not part of the village. It is the territory of the
"barbarian", from whom we must defend ourselves at all costs. As a
result, new walls are erected for self-preservation, the outside world ceases to
exist and leaves only "my" world, to the point that others, no longer
considered human beings possessed of an inalienable dignity, become only
"them". Once more, we encounter "the
temptation to build a culture of walls, to raise walls, walls in the heart,
walls on the land, in order to prevent this encounter with other cultures, with
other people. And those who raise walls will end up as slaves
within the very walls they have built. They are left without horizons, for they
lack this interchange with others"
Click
"countries" here
for Covid-19 latest figures
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. Readings for All Souls Day
Isaiah
25: On Mount Zion in Jerusalem, the Lord
will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich food, a banquet of fine wines. On
this mountain he will delete Death. The
Lord will wipe away the tears from every cheek. Lord, you are my God, I
extol you, I praise your name. You, Lord, are a refuge for the poor, a refuge
for the needy in distress.
Lord, please give hope and courage to people who are sad and troubled in the
world today
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, please increase my remembering, my longing and my hope
Recording
Philippians
3.20-41: Our
homeland is in heaven. We wait for the Savior from heaven who will
transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. He
will do this by the same power he has as C.E.O. of the universe. So, do not stop
running but remain faithful in the Lord.
Jesus, please increase my longing for heaven
Recording
Mark
16.1-8: Jesus died
on Friday afternoon. Early on Sunday morning, Mary of Magdala and two other
women went to Jesus' tomb to
anoint his body with spices. They had been wondering how they would roll away
the large stone, but when they arrived, the stone had already been rolled away.
When they went into the tomb, they saw a young man in a white robe and they were
full of awe. But he said to them "Do not be afraid. You are looking
for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. He
has risen from the dead. Go and tell his disciples he will see them in
Galilee"
Jesus, when life seems hopeless, like a dead body in a tomb, please help us
remember how you rose from the dead .... and you can help us "rise"
from any "hopeless" situation
Recording
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
One thing that nearly all cultures share: an instinct to remember the dead, to pray for the dead, to honor the dead.
-------------------------
A
truck loaded with thousands of copies of Roget's
Thesaurus crashed yesterday losing its entire load. Witnesses were
stunned, startled, aghast, taken aback, stupefied, confused, shocked, rattled,
paralysed, dazed, bewildered, mixed up, surprised, awed, dumbfounded,
nonplussed, flabbergasted, astounded, amazed, confounded, astonished,
overwhelmed,horrified, numbed, speechless, and perplexed.
--------------------
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 2nd of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Fujian
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 2nd
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Niger
And praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
-----------------------
----------------------
Sun Nov 1
Happy All Saints Day!
Yesterday morning I attended the opening of an
art exhibition of works by prisoners in HK, organised by the Kun Sun
Association, at the Maritime Museum. Exhibition is open today 10am to 7pm,
admission free
Also yesterday morning, a dedicated band of volunteers and workers arrived at
MercyHK's second hand shop, 191 Temple Street, Jordan, for a working bee to tidy
up the shop and put more items on display. God bless the band!
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
26. This should not be surprising, if we
realize that we no longer have common horizons that unite us; indeed, the first
victim of every war is "the human family's innate vocation to
fraternity". As a result, "every threatening situation breeds mistrust
and leads people to withdraw into their own safety zone". Our
world is trapped in a strange contradiction: we believe that we can
"ensure stability and peace through a false sense of security sustained by
a mentality of fear and mistrust"
Bible Study: Matthew 10
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. Readings for All Saints Day
Revelation
7.9-17: I saw a huge number,
impossible to count, of people
from every nation, race, and language. They were standing in front of the
throne, with palms in their hands. They shouted: "Victory
to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb". One
of the elders told me who these people are: "These are the people who have
been through the great persecution. They now serve God day and night in his
sanctuary. The Lamb is their Shepherd. He leads them to springs of living water.
God has wiped away all tears from their eyes"
Jesus, please help sorrowing people who are crying today
My
recording of this reading
Psalm 24: The
Lord's is the earth and its fullness, the world and all its peoples. It is he
who set it on the seas; on the waters he made it firm. Who shall climb the
mountain of the Lord? Who
shall stand in his holy place? People with clean
hands and pure hearts, who desire not worthless things. They shall receive
blessings from the Lord and reward from the God who saves them. Such are the
people who seek him, seek the face of the God of Jacob.
God, by living a good life, help me to seek your face
1
John 3.1-3: Think of
the love that the Father has lavished on us by letting us be called God's
children. And God's love has even more in store for us in the future: we
shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is. This is why
we must try to live good lives. We must try to be as good as Christ.
Jesus, please help me be more like you
Matthew
5.1-12: Jesus said
to the crowds: Blessed are poor
and simple of heart people. They belong to the kingdom of heaven. Blessed
are people who are going through great sorrow. Their hearts will be
filled with peace. Blessed
are people who lead just and honest lives. They will see the victory of
goodness. Blessed
are people who show mercy to others. God will be merciful to them. Blessed
are people who have a clean heart. They will see God. Blessed
are people who are peacemakers. They are God's children. Blessed
are people who are persecuted for the cause of right. They will receive a
great reward in heaven.
Jesus, please help me be merciful and
kind and just
Recording
Reflection on the above readings:
All you Saints in Heaven, great and small, pray for us!
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian, Chinese, English, and
Spanish
(+
Cantonese audio)
Daniel Daring: Become Saints (with Chinese text below English text)
-------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------
When
the Saints Go Marching In !
------------------------------
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 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, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
-----------------------
----------------------
Sat Oct 31
Photos of yesterday's O.M.I. to Big Wave Bay - here
------
11/01 = All Saints'
Day
10/31= the evening
before ASD
= the eve of
All Saints' Day
"All Saints"= "All Hallows"
10/31 = the eve of
All Hallows
= Hallow+eve = Hallowe'en!
Scrap Halloween, says exorcist, warning of "spike in demonic possessions". This article will be ridiculed by some people. But it won't be ridiculed by anyone who has read books like Deliverance From Evil Spirits by Francis MacNutt
--------
Taiwan
200 days without local Covid-19 case
---
2 important articles by George Monbiot:The
huge amount of public money spent on test
and trace
has been wasted by incompetent private contractors and executives, with
devastating results.
The
BBC
amplifies the voices of billionaires, and shuts down those who challenge them
-------
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
Conflict and fear
25. War, terrorist attacks, racial or
religious persecution, and many other affronts to human dignity are judged
differently, depending on how convenient it proves for certain, primarily
economic, interests. What is true as long as it is convenient for someone in
power stops being true once it becomes inconvenient. These situations of
violence, sad to say, "have become so common as to constitute a
real "third world war" fought piecemeal"
----
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
1
Maccabees 5-6: As the years went on, several nearby
countries made war
on Israel. But Judas and his followers used prayer and courage
to defeat all enemies. When King Antiochus heard of Judas' continued
victories,
he became severely depressed and realized he was dying. The king's son succeeded him and he too sent a
huge army
against Israel. This army also failed to defeat Judas.
The king then made peace with the Jews and for a time there was peace.
Dear God, please help all
nations to live in peace
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
119: They are happy who follow God's word,
those who seek God with all their hearts. How can young people avoid evil?
By seeking you and obeying you, Lord. Open my eyes, Lord, that I may understand the beauty of your word.
Lord, when I'm worried or in trouble,
your word revives me and gives me strength. Lord, keep my eyes from what is false.
Bend my heart to your word and not to love of gain. The word from your mouth means more to me
than silver and gold. The unfolding of your word gives light
and teaches simple people.
Lord, thank you for your word
which gives peace to our hearts
Listen
2
Corinthians 1.19-20:
The Son of God, Christ Jesus, was not
sometimes "Yes" and sometimes "No" in his words and
actions. He was always crystal clear "Yes" - you knew exactly
where he stood on every issue. That is why it is "through him" that
we pray and then answer "Amen" (= "yes")
Jesus, help me be a committed "Yes"
person - not someone
who "sits on the fence" about the important issues of life
Listen
John
21.25 & 20.31: 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: As we grow older we become more aware of what Jesus thought and taught about life
---------------------------
MercyHK's Sunday night gathering for the poor used to be called the
Pizza Party:
------------------------------
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 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, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
Fri Oct 30
Yesterday I joined 3 other O.M.I.s - Fr Irek, Fr Luc and Fr Ronnie - for a hike to Big Wave Bay near Sai Kung. I had been there dozens of times when I was working at Notre Dame in Kowloon, but had not been there since I left ND in 1995. Great to be back after 25 years! Beaches are as beautiful as before (... will try to post some photos tomorrow). And the day was perfect for hiking: no sun, no rain, not hot, not cold. We walked about 18km (!) in about 5 hours, with a break around midday for a swim (Fr Irek & I) in the surf at "Salt Beach" and lunch at a cafe on the Ham Tin Wan beach. Thank you Jesus - and Irek, Luc & Ronnie - for a great day (...which finished with fish & chips beside the sea at Sai Kung!).
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
24.
We should also recognize that "even though the international community has
adopted numerous agreements aimed at ending slavery in all its forms, and has
launched various strategies to combat this phenomenon, millions of people today
- children, women and men of all ages - are deprived of freedom and forced to
live in conditions akin to slavery. Today, as in the past, slavery
is rooted in a notion of the human person that allows him or her to be treated
as an object. Whether by coercion, or deception, or by physical or
psychological duress, human persons created in the image and likeness of God are
deprived of their freedom, sold and reduced to being the property of others.
They are treated as means to an end. Criminal
networks are skilled in using modern means of communication as a way of luring
young men and women in various parts of the world". A
perversion that exceeds all limits when it subjugates women and then forces them
to abort. An abomination that goes to the length of kidnapping persons for the
sake of selling their organs. Trafficking in persons and other contemporary
forms of enslavement are a worldwide problem that needs to be taken seriously by
humanity as a whole: "since criminal organizations employ global networks
to achieve their goals, efforts to eliminate this phenomenon also demand a
common and, indeed, a global effort on the part of various sectors of
society".
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
1 Maccabees 4: The army of Antiochus was led by Gorgias and
had 40,000 men.
Judas and his men numbered only 3,000. Judas implored God for help and then fought
bravely.
The army of Gorgias was routed. The next year another force, numbering 60,000
men, was sent against Judas who had 10,000 men. Once again by prayer and courage, Judas was
victorious.
Judas gave thanks to God, and then went to Jerusalem.
In Jerusalem Judas re-dedicated the Temple
and re-built the city walls Dear God, please give me the
courage of Judas
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
118: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.
His love has no end. Let the sons of Israel say:
"His love has no end." Let those who honor the Lord say:
"His love has no end." It is better to take refuge in the Lord than
to trust in humans.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. I was falling, falling, falling,
but the Lord was my helper. The Lord is my strength and my song.
He is my saviour. The Lord's right hand has triumphed.
His right hand has raised me up. I shall not die, I shall live
and recount all his deeds. The stone which the builders rejected
has become the corner stone. This is the work of the Lord,
a marvel in our eyes. This day was made by the Lord.
We rejoice and are glad.
Lord, we give thanks to you,
for you are good.
Your love has no end
Listen
2 Corinthians 1.1-10:
From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle
of Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, one of the brothers, to the church of
God at Corinth. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ,
a gentle Father and the God of all consolation. He comforts us in all our
sorrows so that we can comfort others in their sorrows. The recent persecutions I experienced made me
think I would not survive. This has taught me to rely not on myself but
only on God for help. God saved me from being killed. My hope is he
will continue to save me.
Jesus, please help people who are in danger of
being killed today
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
Reflection on the above Bible readings: My reflection on today's Gospel
-------------------------
My Gospel reading on yesterday's menu, below, had Jesus
inviting his friends to eat some fish by the seaside. Perfect Gospel for
yesterday's trip where both lunch and evening meal comprised fish by the
seaside!
-------------------------
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 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, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
----------------------------
Thu Oct 29
Top
judges (who wear wigs!) question short hair for male prisoners!
Three more homeless people moved to the Alhambra Building early
last night. That means MercyHK is now renting 40 rooms (38 at Alhambra) for 75
people!
Pope
Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
23. Similarly, the organization of societies
worldwide is still far from reflecting
clearly that women possess the same dignity and identical rights as men.
We say one thing with words, but our decisions and reality tell another story.
Indeed, "doubly poor are those women who endure situations of exclusion,
mistreatment and violence, since they are frequently less able to defend their
rights"
------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
The
race for the White House is nearly over
Available on Youtube: Robert
Kennedy's improvised speech after the assassination of Martin Luther King
-------------------------
The Book Blog: 4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
1 Maccabees 3: Judas led the people in many successful
battles.
He often said that it is easy for a great number of soldiers to be defeated
by a few. "Victory in war does not depend on the
size of an army.
It is from heaven that strength comes". As Judas' fame spread, King Antiochus ordered
a huge army to attack Judas.
Dear God, please help us put
our trust in you
rather than in anyone or anything else
Recording
Psalm 117: O Praise the Lord, all you
nations.
Acclaim him, all you peoples! Strong is his love for us.
He is faithful for ever. May all the nations love and
praise you, Lord
Recording
1 Corinthians 16.5-24: I hope to visit you after I have been to
Macedonia.
I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost,
because an important door
has opened for my work, despite
opposition. Be brave and strong. Let everything be done in
love. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you
Jesus, help me be brave and strong, like Paul
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
---------------
Not
a few people have commented that the name "Fratelli Tuti" ("All
brothers") leaves out women .... so that today's reading from FT, above,
calling for more recognition of women, causes some people to shake their heads
--------------------
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 29th 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 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, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
----------------------------
Wed Oct 28
My
post yesterday on Nigeria's No.1 blog re 13 Nigerians arrested in Addis Ababa on
way to HK (260 views by last night) ... and notice a
linked article: Thailand
police arrest Nigerian man who recruits women as drug mules
144
kg of cocaine in hydraulic rams (& see
below!)
No
future in HK for children of asylum seekers
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
Insufficiently universal human rights:
22. It frequently becomes clear that, in
practice, human rights are not equal for all. Respect for those rights "is
the preliminary condition for a country's social and economic development. When
the dignity of the human person is respected, and his or her rights recognized
and guaranteed, creativity and interdependence thrive, and the creativity of the
human personality is released through actions that further the common
good". Yet, "by closely observing our contemporary societies, we
see numerous contradictions that lead us to wonder whether the equal dignity of
all human beings, solemnly proclaimed seventy years ago, is truly recognized,
respected, protected and promoted in every situation. In today's world, many
forms of injustice persist, fed by reductive anthropological visions and by a
profit-based economic model that does not hesitate to exploit, discard and even
kill human beings. While one part of
humanity lives in opulence, another part sees its own dignity denied, scorned or
trampled upon, and its fundamental rights discarded or violated". What
does this tell us about the equality of rights grounded in innate human dignity?
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
1 Maccabees 2: Mattathias was a Jew loyal to his religion at
a time when most people were not loyal. When the king's representative came to the
town of Mattathias
and started forcing people to take part in pagan ceremonies,
Mattathias killed the representative. Mattathias then called on everyone loyal to
God
to join him in the desert. Mattathias soon had a small army which
gradually won control
of many parts of the country and restored observance of God's law. When Mattathias was coming to the end of his
life
he appointed his son Judas as his army successor.
Dear God, help us to be loyal
to you like Mattathias
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
116: I love the Lord for he has heard the cry of
my appeal.
He turned his ear to me in the day when I called him. They surrounded me, sorrow, distress and the
snares of death.
I was helpless, so the Lord saved me. Calm down my soul, for the Lord has been good.
I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living. How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to
me?
The cup of salvation I will raise to thank the Lord. O precious in the eyes of the Lord is the
death of his faithful.
Lord, you have loosened my bonds. I am your servant.
Thank you, Lord, for all your
goodness to me
Listen
1
Corinthians 15:54-58: When this mortal nature has put on immortality, then
the words of Scripture will come true: "Death has been defeated.
Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?" Never give up, dear friends, never admit
defeat. Keep on working at the Lord's work always. Know that, in the Lord,
no work is in vain
Jesus, please give me more faith to "keep going"
Listen
"Where is, O Death, your victory?"
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 readings: "Death" is a common theme in today's Gospel, psalm and reading from I Corinthians. Actually not "death", but "the death of death"!
---------------------------
Report at top of this menu re 144 kg of cocaine suggests
this pun:
Q: Which sheep use the most water?
A: Hydraulic rams
-------------------------
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 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, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
--------------------------------
-------------------------------
Tues Oct 27
14
drug mules arrested Addis Ababa airport .... on way to HK!
(... didn't they know about 14 day quarantine in HK? .... 14 days with drugs in
bodies?). This report is by Samuel
Getachew, Ethiopia's number 1 investigative journalist who worked with me
in Addis Ababa in January this year ... when together we had a long meeting with
the officer mentioned in the report - Commander
Mengisteab. Previous report of Samuel here
Yesterday I found accommodation for three more homeless people.
MercyHK now renting 38 rooms for 73 people! And late afternoon I provided meals
for 6 people who had had little if anything to eat during the day. Most grateful
a full time social worker will begin work for MercyHK from November 2!
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
21. Some economic rules have proved
effective for growth, but not
for integral human development. Wealth
has increased, but together with inequality, with the result that "new
forms of poverty are emerging". The claim that the modern world has
reduced poverty is made by measuring poverty with criteria from the past that
do not correspond to present-day realities. In other times, for example, lack
of access to electric energy was not considered a sign of poverty, nor was it a
source of hardship. Poverty must always be understood and gauged in the context
of the actual opportunities available in each concrete historical period.
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
1
Maccabees 1: Some Jews abandoned
their religion and made a pact with King Antiochus Epiphanes, a Seleucid
king of the Greeks. Antiochus conquered
many lands, including Israel.
He plundered the Temple and forced the Jews to renounce their religion. But many Jews
courageously stood firm and were punished with death. This was a sad and
terrible time for Israel.
Dear
God, please help us stay faithful to you
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
114-115: When Israel came out of Egypt,
Jacob's descendents from an alien people, Judah became the Lord's temple,
Israel became his kingdom. Descendents of Israel, trust in the
Lord.
He is our help and our shield. To you may the Lord grant increase,
to you and all your children. May you be blessed by the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.
Thank you, Lord, for all your
blessings
Listen
1
Corinthians 15.20-22:
Christ has been raised from the dead, the
first to rise of all who have died. Death came through one man, Adam, and rising
from the dead has come through one man, Jesus. Just as all people die because of Adam, so all
people can live because of Christ
Jesus, may all people have
eternal life
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: What a strong combination I Cor and John 20 make!
------------------------------
To go with story above re Nigerians at Addis Abba airport:
Nigerian
Drug Lords' nightmare in HK
-------------------------------
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 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, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
--------------------
============
On-going project to help homeless people in YMT-Jordan area
========
Africa:
2020: My trip to Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg
2017:
My trip to Southern Africa, Dubai (
The
Last Run)
2016:
My trip to Kenya, Uganda
2015: My trip to Tanzania, Malawi
----------------
Latin America:
2019-05-10: No More Mules Peru FB boost 199,000 views!
2019-01-20: Article in El Pais, Uruguay - 01 02
2018-09-18: No More Mules Facebook campaign - more than 300,000 people reached in Venezuela
2018: My trip to Latin America
----------------
South East Asia:
Aug 16, 2020: CNN - Indonesian women recruited to take drugs to Hong Kong
Oct 23, 2019: FM988 Breakfast program in Kuala Lumpur at which I was a guest
June 2019: My campaign featured in The Malaysia Drug Trade (6 written reports & documentary video)
2019-03-25: Eleven HK01 video and photo reports about Malaysian drug mules arrested in HK- here (one of the reports is about my anti-drug campaign).
Dec 2018 - My Jan 2019 trip to Malaysia
2018: My trip to Thailand and Cambodia
--------------------
Hong Kong:
July 2019: My warning to HK domestic helpers - published here in HK Filipino media
2018-09-22:
My
60 min video interview with Radio99,
in Cantonese, is here: 01 02
to help stop people going to prison
2018-07-29: SCMP- Beware drug lords luring domestic helpers, refugees into narcotics trade
2018-04-08: The Pearl Report on TVB - concerning HK's Long Term Sentencing Review Board and my anti-drug campaign
March 18, 2018: South China Morning Post report on my work
2017-12-01: Report in Chinese in Ming Pao Magazine
2017-09-27: SCMP Spirit of HK Awards (video starts after 20 secs)
2017-08-24: Cable TV video report on my anti-drug campaign and a Facebook report on the video report (click "translation" for English)
2027-05-18: SCMP - The prison chaplain who has stopped 150 drug mules reaching HK
2017-03-25: Oriental
Daily
report of case of South African woman given discount for help to my campaign
*** May
14 updates:
Oriental
Daily, Apple
Daily, Sing
Tao
Dec 1, 2016 - HK News: More women being recruited as drug mules
2016-10-13: HK01 report about campaign and about work for the poor
2016-09-11: Oriental Daily report about my campaign - and same day Editorial
2016-08-27: Oriental Daily article about court case and campaign
My
anti-drug campaign sites
(skillfully
managed by kind HK friends):
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nomasmulas/
Facebook: Chinese no more mules page
Facebook: AddisAbabaDrugTrade; KenyaDrugTrade; TanzaniaDrugTrade; JohannesburgDrugTrade; SaoPauloDrugTrade; MalaysiaDrugTrade; ThailandDrugTrade; HongKongDrugTrade; CambodiaDrugTrade; IndonesiaDrugTrade
http://hkdrugblog.org/name-and-shame/index.htm
----------------------
Photos
from my time in China 2001-20008
---------------------
---------------------
Australian Chinese for
Families Association
Gay marriage: Elephant in the room (by John W)
--------------------------------------------
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.
Map and Flag Counter began Feb 11, 2012. Previous visits 4,932.
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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
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ .