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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Pope Francis
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See & share inmates' letters!
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MatteoRicci
Tues Dec 15
10
days to Christmas! May this year's Christmas give our troubled world an urgently
needed boost of hope and peace and courage!
Yesterday
afternoon I visited several prisoners at Lai
King young women's prison, my first visit this year (mainly because of Covid
restrictions)
Last
night I bought a meal at the 7-11 shop near my home for A-Ming, one of many
local street sleepers - photos here
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
67. The parable eloquently presents the
basic decision we need to make in order to rebuild our wounded world. In
the face of so much pain and suffering, our only course is to imitate the Good
Samaritan. Any other decision would make us either one of the robbers or
one of those who walked by without showing compassion for the sufferings of the
man on the roadside. The parable shows us how a community can be rebuilt by men
and women who identify with the vulnerability of others, who reject the creation
of a society of exclusion, and act instead as neighbours, lifting up and
rehabilitating the fallen for the sake of the common good. At the same time, it
warns us about the attitude of those who think only of themselves and fail to
shoulder the inevitable responsibilities of life as it is.
My article in today's Ming Pao newspaper has the topic: A Covid Christmas. 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
Proverbs
19-22: Where reflection is wanting, zeal is not
good.
People who go too quickly miss their way. Whoever is kind to the poor is kind to the
Lord.
The Lord will repay such kindness. Children at play
show what sort of people they will be in the future. Better the corner of a loft to live in
than a house shared with a scolding spouse. Better to live in a desert land
than with a scolding and irritable spouse. Instruct children in goodness and justice
and they will always be good adults.
Lord, please help me put
into practice the ideas in these words
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
Philippians
1.1-9:
From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ
Jesus, to all the believers in the Church
at Philippi. We wish you the grace and peace of God our
Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank God whenever I think of
you. Every
time I pray for you, I pray with joy, remembering how you helped to spread
the Good News. You have a permanent place in my heart. God
knows how much I miss you. I love you as Christ Jesus loves you. My prayer is that your love for each other
will increase more and more, helping you always to know what is good and
to avoid what is bad
Jesus, thank you for all the people
who have a permanent place in my heart
Listen
Matthew
14.13-21:
Once after Jesus had been healing and
teaching many people all afternoon, his disciples said to him
"It's getting late and the people need to go and eat".
Jesus replied "They don't need to go. You feed them".
The disciples said "We have only 5 loaves and 2 fish". Jesus got the people to sit on the grass.
There were about 20,000 of them.
Then he blessed the loaves and fish. He handed the loaves and fish to his
disciples.
His disciples gave them to the crowd.
Everyone had plenty to eat.
They even had 12 baskets of leftovers.
Jesus, please
make leaders do more
to help the
starving people of the world
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings: What can
you see on Visa card?!
------------------------------
Two days ago in Shanghai Street near my home: Mrs Fong's
most successful business!
-------------------------------
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 Liaoning
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 Dec
14
11 days to
Christmas! If we think we have
many problems, let's remember what Jesus' mother and her husband were going
through 2,000 years ago at this time .... a donkey journey from Nazareth to
Bethlehem ... with Mary soon to give birth .... and then nowhere to stay in
Bethlehem
I
spent most of Saturday and a large part of yesterday preparing a long and
complicated support letter for two Russian women in prison for drug trafficking
....in support of their application for a hearing by the Court of Appeal. Then
around 6pm last night I got a call to say that a woman who had been in the
notorious Castle Peak Immigration Centre (CIC) for nearly 3 years had been
released yesterday and had nowhere to stay. So a room for her was found at the
Alhambra Building where MercyHK is renting more than 30 rooms for more than 60
homeless people. And guess what country she is from? Russia! Three Russian women
in one day .... God has a sense of humour!
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
66. May we not sink to such depths! Let us
look to the example of the Good Samaritan. Jesus'
parable summons us to rediscover our vocation as citizens of our respective
nations and of the entire world, builders of a new social bond. This
summons is ever new, yet it is grounded in a fundamental law of our being: we
are called to direct society to the pursuit of the common good and, with this
purpose in mind, to persevere in consolidating its political and social order,
its fabric of relations, its human goals. By his actions, the Good Samaritan
showed that "the existence of each and every individual is deeply tied to
that of others: life is not simply time that passes; life is a time for
interactions".
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Proverbs
18:
Foolish people are not interested in reflection,
but only in airing their own opinion. The human heart is haughty until disaster
strikes.
Humility goes before honor. Don't reply to someone until you've listened
to their views.
Be slow to interrupt someone who is speaking.
Lord, please help me to be a
good listener
My
recording of this reading
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
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
14.1-12: Not long after Jesus began traveling and teaching,
King Herod arrested John the Baptist and put him in prison. This was because John
had told Herod he was breaking the Law
by living with Herodias, his brother's wife. During a birthday party for Herod,
the daughter of Herodias danced. Her dancing so pleased Herod
that he said he would give her anything she wanted. Herodias told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a dish.
Herod then had John beheaded. John's disciples came and buried the body.
Jesus, please give the world
good leaders, and protect people from bad leaders like Herod
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: John the Baptist died for defending the sacredness of marriage
-------------------------
Russian
woman released from detention yesterday (see top of this menu) was in need of
clothing (...cold weather...), so same was provided by MercyHK's 2nd hand shop
at 191 Temple Street. But the dear lady's main concern was to get an extra nice
pair of shoes .... and then a backpack which matched her shoes!
--------------------
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.
-----------------------
----------------------
Dec 13
3rd Sun of Advent
Beautiful Advent song: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and free captive Israel (... from captivity to drugs/virus etc!)
Updated December financial report for MercyHK is here
600,000
HK people planning to move to UK
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
65. Someone is assaulted on our streets, and
many hurry off as if they did not notice. People hit someone with their car and
then flee the scene. Their only desire is to avoid problems; it does not matter
that, through their fault, another person could die. All these are signs of an
approach to life that is spreading in various and subtle ways. What is more,
caught up as we are with our own needs, the sight of a person who is suffering
disturbs us. It makes us uneasy, since we have no time to waste on other people's
problems. These are symptoms of an unhealthy society. A
society that seeks prosperity but turns its back on suffering.
Bible Study: Mark 4
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Advent 3
Isaiah
61: The spirit of
the Lord has been given to me, for the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to
bring good news to the poor, to bind up broken hearts, to proclaim liberty to
captives, freedom to those in prison, to comfort people who mourn,
to replace their sadness with praise. I exult for joy
in the Lord, my soul rejoices in my God, for as the earth makes plants to grow,
and as a garden makes seeds spring up, so the Lord will make integrity and
praise spring up in the sight of the nations.
Lord, please give comfort and courage to people who are sad
My
recording of this reading
Luke
1.46-56: Mary said "My soul
praises the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices
in God my savior. Starting from today, all generations will call me blessed, for
the Almighty has done great things for me". Mary
stayed with Elizabeth about 3 months and then went home. Elizabeth gave birth to
a son. Her neighbors and relatives shared her joy. When the child was
circumcised on the 8th day, he was given the name John.
Jesus, please bless all women who are having a baby today
Listen
1
Thessalonians 5.19-28: Let
the Holy Spirit have a free reign in your life. Hold on to what is good.
Avoid every form of evil. May the God of peace make you holy. May you be kept
safe in spirit, soul and body, for the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ. God has
called you. He will not fail you. Pray for us. Greet all the believers with the
holy kiss. Read this letter to all the believers. The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ be with you.
Holy Spirit of Jesus, Holy Spirit of the Father, I open my life to you.
My heart is yours
Listen
John
1: John the Baptist was
sent by God as a witness to the people about the presence of the Word among
them. When religious leaders asked John "Who are you?", he replied
"I am, as the prophet Isaiah prophesied, a voice crying out: make a
straight way for the Lord". When Jesus came to the river Jordan where John
was baptizing, John said "Look, there is the lamb of God who takes away the
sin of the world. He is far more important than I am, because he existed (as the
Word) before I was born. I saw the Holy Spirit come down on him like a dove. He
will baptize people with the Holy Spirit. He is the Chosen One of
God"
Jesus, lamb of God, Chosen One of God, please baptize me with the Holy Spirit
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Jesus helps us replace sadness with praise
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian, Chinese, English, and
Spanish
(+
Cantonese audio)
-------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------
Pastor's
Christmas joke:
Just as I began my Christmas Eve service, the electricity in the church failed.
The ushers and I found some candles and placed them around the sanctuary. Then I
reentered the pulpit, shuffled my notes, and muttered, "Now, where was
I?" A tired voice called out, "Right near the end!"
------------------------------
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 Dec 12
On
this day in 1531, something
very special happened in Mexico City *** I
was privileged to visit Guadalupe before and after my
trip to South America two years ago. Before, to ask for protection and help;
after, to say thank you! Mary
of Guadalupe, pray for us!
Yesterday
I attended 2 most worthwhile meetings: one in the morning with representatives
of NGOs which serve the homeless, then one in the afternoon discussing ways to
help prisoners as well as the homeless
Men
sentenced for 450kg of ecstasy
In the whole world there are 741,000
women in prison, 35% of them for drug related offences, compared
to 19% of men, partly because women are more often used as drug mules - report
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:64.
Which
of these persons do you identify with? This question, blunt as it is, is direct
and incisive. Which of these characters do you resemble? We need to acknowledge
that we are constantly tempted to ignore others, especially the weak. Let us
admit that, for all the progress we have made, we are still "illiterate"
when it comes to accompanying, caring for and supporting the most frail and
vulnerable members of our developed societies. We
have become accustomed to looking the other way, passing by, ignoring situations
until they affect us directly.
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Proverbs
17: Better a dry crust of bread eaten in peace
than a house where feasting and argument go together. Whoever avoids talking about
offences, promotes love.
Whoever keeps on talking about offences, divides friends. A person who controls the tongue has
knowledge.
People of discernment control their temper.
Lord, please give me a kind
tongue
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
16: Please protect me, Lord, I take refuge in
you.
You are the only source of all true happiness. I bless you, Lord, who guide and lead me.
Even at night you direct my heart. And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad.
My body shall rest in safety now and always. You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand, happiness for ever.
Thank you, Lord, for the little
joys you give us each day .... and the big joy you've prepared for us in Heaven.
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
13.53-58: One day Jesus went to Nazareth, his home
town.
In the prayer hall there he taught the local people. But the local people would not accept
him. They said
"Where did he get such wisdom and miraculous power?
He is just a carpenter's son. His mother is that woman called Mary.
His brothers are James, Joseph, Simon and Jude.
His sisters are here, too. He's nobody special." Jesus said to them
"A prophet is despised only in his own country and his own house".
And he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Jesus, please give me more
faith in you
.... and don't let me reject people
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: 11 reasons why people are not healed after prayer
---------------------------
Q: How
does a sheep say "Merry Christmas"?
A: "Fleece Navidad!"
------------------------------
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 Dec 11
Yesterday I spent more than 7 hours at Lo Wu women's prison ....
where in most dayrooms people wished me a Merry Christmas before I could wish
them the same ... Christmas being a specially poignant time to be away from
family ... especially for around 60% of the around 1300 women who are mothers.
Christmas
song - O Holy Night,
by the
Indian group Sanam (2 million
views)
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
Abandoned on the
wayside
63.
Jesus tells the story of a man assaulted by thieves and lying injured on the
wayside. Several persons passed him by, but failed to stop. These
were people holding important social positions, yet lacking in real concern for
the common good. They would not waste a couple of minutes caring for the
injured man, or even in calling for help. Only one person stopped, approached
the man and cared for him personally, even spending his own money to provide for
his needs. He also gave him something that in our frenetic world we cling to
tightly: he gave him his time. Certainly, he had his own plans for that day, his
own needs, commitments and desires. Yet he was able to put all that aside when
confronted with someone in need. Without even knowing the injured man, he saw
him as deserving of his time and attention.
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Proverbs 16: A person proposes, God disposes.
Ask the Lord to bless all your plans. Kindness and loyalty make up for sin.
Love of the Lord brings avoidance of evil. If the Lord is pleased with your way of life,
he will cause your enemies to become your friends. Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall. A troublemaker sows strife.
A talebearer separates friends. Better to be a peaceful person than a hero.
Better to be master of yourself than the conqueror of a city.
Lord, please give me a humble,
peaceful spirit
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
14-15: So many people live and act as if God doesn't exist.
Some foolish people even say there is no
God. So many people have left the way of justice and truth.
So many people follow the way of falsehood. Lord, help us to live as we should.
Help us not to slander, help us not to wrong others.
Lord,
help us to stand firm in the
way of goodness
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
13: Jesus said to the people:
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed.
It's the smallest of all seeds.
But it becomes a big bush, then a big tree that the birds live in.
The kingdom of heaven is like yeast which
leavens flour. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure
in a field.
Someone finds it, then sells all they have to buy the field. The kingdom of heaven is like a fishing net
that catches all sorts of fish. Good fish are put in a basket. Useless
fish are thrown away.
So at the end of time, bad people will be thrown into hell.
Jesus, may your kingdom come,
your will be done
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: The mystery and marvel of growth (Gospel) .... human, animal, plant ....what causes growth to happen? Just blind chance (a foolish option - Psalm). Or a Divine Programmer?!
-------------------------
Flag
flown upside down at HK legislature
-------------------------
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 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, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
----------------------------
Thu Dec 10
Yesterday
morning at the High Court I attended a Court of Appeal case of a woman from Peru
sentenced for drug trafficking. Her sentence was reduced by 6 months ... which
was very pleasing .... a simple woman tricked/forced to consume 180 (!) pellets
of cocaine ..... although I could not help but be aware that in the same
building another case was in progress ... that of this
man from Nigeria who is responsible for recruiting/forcing a number of women
drug mules from South America to bring drugs to HK .... he's on a local charge,
with his international record not on the radar.
Pope
Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
62. Yet
this call to love could be misunderstood. Saint Paul, recognizing the temptation
of the earliest Christian communities to form closed and isolated groups, urged
his disciples to abound in love "for one another and for all".
In the Johannine community, fellow Christians were to be welcomed, "even
though they are strangers to you". In this context, we can better
understand the significance of the parable of the Good Samaritan: love
does not care if a brother or sister in need comes from one place or another.
For "love shatters the chains that keep us isolated and separate; in their
place, it builds bridges. Love enables us to create one great family, where all
of us can feel at home. Love exudes compassion and dignity".
-------------------------
The Book Blog: 4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Proverbs 15: A mild answer diffuses a tense situation.
A sharp answer stirs up anger. A kind tongue is a source of life.
A harsh tongue hurts other people's feelings. A happy heart produces a cheerful face.
A sad heart means a drooping spirit. Hot-headed people provoke disputes.
Peaceful people prevent disputes. Without deliberation, plans come to nothing.
Successful plans need many counselors. A kindly glance gives joy to the
heart.
Good news gives strength to the bones.
Dear Lord, please give me a
kind tongue
Recording
Psalms 9-13: I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart.
You have so often rescued me from trouble. Thank you! You are the best helper for people in trouble.
Please keep on helping me when troubles come. Please stop bad people from hurting others.
Please let peoples in all countries know they must avoid evil and live a
life of justice.
Dear Lord, thank you for
so often rescuing me
Recording
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 13: Jesus told the people another story:
The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
An enemy came and sowed weeds in the same field. When the good seed sprouted, so did the weeds.
The man's servants asked if they should get rid of the weeds. "No", said the man, "you might
damage the good seed if you do that.
Let them both grow till harvest time. Then burn the weeds." Then Jesus explained his story:
"I am the sower. The field is the world.
The good seed stands for people of good will.
The weeds stand for people of bad will. The enemy is Satan. At the end of the world, the Son of Man will
send his angels
to sort out the good and the bad people.
Bad people will go to hell. Good people will go to heaven".
Jesus, please protect good
people from bad people
Listen
---------------
After the High Court yesterday morning I went to the nearby
Chinese University office to enrol some prisoners for courses .... and then had
a McDonald's lunch ... after which I used the McD's key for the building's
toilet. But as I tried to enter the toilet block, the key broke in the lock! I
was rescued by a guy with another key ....who skillfully extracted the broken
key. I returned the broken key to McD's where the staff kindly declined my offer
to pay for a new key
--------------------
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 Dec 9
Yesterday
I met some really good HK people who continue to think that Donald Trump has won
/ will win the US election. Such people get their news only from extreme sites.
They decline to follow mainline news services. It is sad to realise that despite
all the technological advances of our world, truth is not clearly available and
presented as it should be.
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
61. The call to fraternal love echoes throughout the New Testament: "For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself'".
"Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness".
"We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death".
"Those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen".
------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
A monk of our time
Thomas Merton
was
truly a man on an Advent journey of mystery and trust
-----------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Proverbs 13-14:
Guard your talk and you will protect your
life.
People who talk too much, easily get into trouble. Choose wise people as your friends and you
will be happy.
Choose foolish people as friends and your problems will multiply. The heart knows its own grief best.
No human person can fully understand another person's heart. A peaceful heart is necessary for good health.
Envy is like a cancer in the bones. Injustice to the poor is an insult to our
Creator.
Kindness to the poor gives honor to our Creator. Virtue makes a nation
great.
Sin causes empires to fall.
Dear God, please help everyone
in our country
to be wise and kind and just.
My
recording of this reading
Psalm 8: How great is your name, O Lord our God,
through all the earth. When I see the heavens, the work of your
hands,
the moon and stars which you have arranged,
then I stop and think:
what are we insignificant humans that you should care about us? Yet you have put us in charge of the world.
Everything is subject to our control.
How great is your name, O Lord
our God, through all the earth
Listen
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
13.1-23: One day Jesus told the people this story:
A farmer was planting seeds in his field.
Some seeds fell on the path. Birds ate them. Some seeds fell on rocky ground.
They became sickly plants, without roots, and died. Some seeds fell among thorns.
When they became plants, they were choked by the thorns. Some seeds fell on good soil
and produced a rich harvest. People who hear God's word without good will
are like the seeds on the path.
They are easy prey for Satan. People who hear God's word only superficially
are like the seeds on rocky ground.
As soon as difficulties come, such people easily give up. People who hear God's word with one ear
but with the other listen to the call of greed and pleasure
are like the seeds among thorns. Greed kills the word. People who hear God's word with good will and
put it into practice
are like the good seeds which produced a rich harvest.
Jesus, please help me be good
seed!
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: One example of someone hearing the word without good will (Gospel) might be a person joining a program to prepare for baptism in order to help their child enter a Christian school ... such a person not having any real interest in becoming a Christian.
---------------------------
Hand
grenades and ammunition found at missionaries former building !
-------------------------
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
--------------------------------
-------------------------------
----------------------
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
/2017-12-27-Guadalupe-04.jpg){kind=link}
---------------------
---------------------
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
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ .