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 Feb 9
I
spent yesterday morning with a wonderful media team from the HK Diocesan Youth
Centre. Followed in the afternoon by time with two of Mother Teresa's sisters
and two of their volunteers ... discussing how to help a drug addict who
receives daily meals from the sisters' centre in Nam Chung (followed by a visit
to MercyHK's Simon at his office in the Alhambra Building ... and a visit to
MercyHK's second hand shop at 191 Temple Street, Jordan). Then at 6.30 a team
from RTHK came to my home for the final filming for a program due to go to air
on Feb 12 (LNY). God bless all the people I met yesterday!
Tanzania's
president continues to deny reality of Covid-19 (I have a special place in
my heart for Tanzania after visiting there in 2015 and 2020 - see links at
bottom of this menu)
Letter in English from a young Brazil man in prison in HK for drug trafficking -
here.
He is due to be sentenced next month
To
help MercyHK rent rooms for homeless people, see the updated list of
items for sale on our Carousell sites:
Shop 1
Shop
2
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
203. Authentic social dialogue involves the
ability to respect the other's point of view and to admit that it may include
legitimate convictions and concerns.
Based on their identity and experience, others have a contribution to make, and
it is desirable that they should articulate their positions for the sake of a
more fruitful public debate. When individuals or groups are consistent in their
thinking, defend their values and convictions, and develop their arguments, this
surely benefits society. Yet, this can only occur to the extent that there is
genuine dialogue and openness to others.
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Sirach
40-41: Wine and music cheer the heart,
but better than wine and music is the love of wisdom. Do not speak sharply to people.
Do not ignore people who greet you. Do not gaze at another man's wife.
Do not carry on with a single girl.
Lord, please help me control my
speech and my eyes
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
88: Lord my God, day and night I call to you for
help.
Please turn your ear to my cry. For my soul is filled with evils.
My life is on the brink of the grave. I am reckoned as one in the tomb.
I have reached the end of my strength. Will your love be told in the grave?
Will your wonders be known in the dark? Fear surrounds me like a flood. All my friends have deserted me.
My only companion is darkness.
Lord, please help people who
are in despair
Listen
1
Timothy 1.12-17:
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who called me
into his service,
even though I was an offender. Mercy was shown me, because I was acting in
ignorance. Christ Jesus came into the world to save
offenders.
I myself am the greatest offender. Christ Jesus' patience and mercy to me is
available to all offenders.
I am a demonstration model of Christ's mercy
To the eternal King, the only God, be honor
and glory for ever and ever. Amen
Listen
Matthew
27.27-31:
After the Roman soldiers scourged Jesus, they
made fun of him: they put a red cloak on him, they made a crown out of
thorns, they put a reed in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him
saying "Hail, king of the Jews".
They spat on him.
They took the reed and hit him with it.
When they had finished making fun of him,
they dressed him in his own clothes and led him away to crucify him.
Jesus, please don't let me hurt other people by
making fun of them
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings: The
soldiers were making fun of someone they had just scourged almost to the point
of death. The mental suffering of Jesus must have been as intense as his
physical suffering. As would be the case of a parent so treated by their
children.
------------------------------
Fake
Australian cherries in Yau Ma Tei, near my home!
-------------------------------
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 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 the Central African Republic
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon Feb 8
I spent yesterday morning on a very special mitigation letter -
for a local man on a minor theft charge. Letter was special because man's aging
parents, whom I have met, are under tremendous pressure since their other son
also is in prison, in Shenzhen ... on death row for a drug trafficking charge. A
volunteer from my NGO Voice for
Prisoners helped the parents send a petition letter to HK's Chief Executive.
That letter was forwarded to the authorities in China, stressing that the man
has a history of mental illness .... hoping for clemency. Jesus,
please help that man!
Yesterday afternoon I met
with several groups of friends who are helping MercyHK in caring for homeless
people in the Jordan-Yau Ma Tei area. One topic came up with each group: how to
find/create jobs, even part-time jobs, for homeless people? Without jobs, the
homeless cannot break out of the no-money-to-rent-accommodation cycle
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
201. Indeed, the
media's noisy potpourri of facts and opinions is often an obstacle to dialogue,
since it lets everyone cling stubbornly to his or her own ideas, interests and
choices, with the excuse that everyone else is wrong. It becomes easier to
discredit and insult opponents from the outset than to open a respectful
dialogue aimed at achieving agreement on a deeper level. Worse, this kind of
language, usually drawn from media coverage of political campaigns, has become
so widespread as to be part of daily conversation. Discussion is often
manipulated by powerful special interests that seek to tilt public opinion
unfairly in their favour. This kind of manipulation can be exercised not only by
governments, but also in economics, politics, communications, religion and in
other spheres. Attempts can be made to justify or excuse it when it tends to
serve one's own economic or ideological interests, but sooner or later it turns
against those very interests.
Click
"countries" here
for Covid-19 latest figures
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Sirach
38-39: All healing is a gift of God.
To obtain healing: pray to the Lord, ask forgiveness for sin,
then follow the doctor's advice. Mourn for the dead and honor their
graves,
but do not let your heart be controlled by grief. Ordinary working people have little time for
study.
But the Lord blesses everyone who studies wisdom.
Lord, please heal my friend
(..name..) who is sick
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
87: On the holy mountain is Jerusalem,
the Lord's cherished city. Of you are told glorious things, O city of
God. All nations are called to serve and love the
Lord.
And Jerusalem shall be called their spiritual mother,
for all shall be her children. In Jerusalem everyone will be welcome and find
a home.
Lord, may Jerusalem be a place
of peace and prayer for all peoples
Listen
1 Timothy
1.1-10: From Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus, to
Timothy, true child of mine in the faith. I wish you grace, mercy
and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Please stay at Ephesus and
insist that no one
teaches misleading doctrines or empty speculation about the Law of God.
As a penal code, the aim of the Law is to make
provision not for good people but for offenders: for murderers, for people
who are immoral with women or with boys or with men, for liars and for
perjurers - and for everything else that is contrary to sound teaching
Jesus, please help law offenders not to offend
again, and to make up for what they have done
Listen
Matthew
27.1-26: Early in the morning, the religious leaders
had Jesus bound with ropes.
They then took him to Pilate, the Roman governor. The leaders accused
Jesus of many crimes.
To the governor's amazement, Jesus remained silent. The leaders persuaded
the crowd to demand
the execution of Jesus. They called out to Pilate "Crucify him".
Pilate asked "Why? What has
he done wrong?"
The crowd shouted all the louder "Crucify him. Crucify him".
Pilate then washed his hands in
front of the crowd and said
"I am innocent of this man's blood".
The crowd shouted "His blood be on us and on our children". Pilate then ordered Jesus to be
scourged and crucified.
Jesus, help people who are condemned to death
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Jesus' heart would have been pounding when he heard the crowd crying out "Crucify him"
-------------------------
Not
many people realise that the Bible says "follow the doctor's advice"
(today's first reading)!
--------------------
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 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, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
-----------------------
----------------------
Sun Feb 7
Yesterday I spent several hours with Fr Patrick Sun Ing Fen, who is due to become parish priest of St Paul's Parish, Yau Ma Tei on March 1, replacing Fr David Lau Foo Kun. I thank Fr David for all his kind help to me personally and to MercyHK over the past ten years, and I look forward to working with Fr Patrick. Fr Patrick and I were joined yesterday by MercyHK's social work assistant Simon for lunch at Simon's office in the Alhambra Building in YMT, where MercyHK is renting more than 40 rooms for more than 60 homeless people.
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
200.
Dialogue is often confused with something quite different: the
feverish exchange of opinions on social networks, frequently based on
media information that is not always reliable. These exchanges are merely
parallel monologues. They may attract some attention by their sharp and
aggressive tone. But monologues engage no one, and their content is frequently
self-serving and contradictory.
Bible Study: Matthew 10
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Sunday 5
Job
3-7: Job
broke the 7 day silence by wishing that he had never been born. He added
"For me, there is no peace, no sleep. My suffering doesn't let me
rest." Eliphaz then spoke and reminded Job that God corrects those whom he
loves. Job replied that he was innocent of any wrongdoing, so why was he being
punished? He added: "Lying in
bed I wonder 'When will it be day?' During the day I think 'How slowly
night comes.' Neither day nor night offers me any relief from my
suffering."
Dear Lord, please give courage and peace to
people who are suffering great pain or distress
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
147: Praise the Lord for he
is good. Sing to our God for he is loving. To him our praise is due. The Lord
builds up Jerusalem and brings back Israel's exiles. He
heals the broken-hearted and binds up all their wounds. The Lord raises
the lowly and humbles the wicked. He fixes the number of the stars. He calls
each one by name. Our Lord is great and almighty. His wisdom can never be
measured. He covers the heavens with clouds. He prepares rain for the earth,
making mountains sprout with grass and with plants to serve our needs. His
delight is not in horses nor his pleasure in warriors' strength. The Lord
delights in those who love and honor him, in those who wait for his love.
It is right and fitting to praise and love you,
Lord our Creator
Listen
1
Corinthians 9.12-27: I put up
with anything, rather than obstruct the Good News of Christ in any way. I make
myself all things to all people, in order to save some. All the runners at the
stadium are trying to win, but only one of them gets the prize. You must run in
the same way, meaning to win the gold medal of eternal life. That is how I run,
intent on winning. Therefore I try to
stay in top condition, avoiding sloppy living.
Jesus, may I run a good race till my last day
Listen
Mark 1.29-34: Jesus
went to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed with
a fever. Jesus took her by the hand and
helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve her
visitors. That night all the local sick people were brought to Jesus. He healed
many who were suffering from all kinds of diseases. He also cast out many
devils.
Jesus, please heal (..name..) who is sick
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: When life gets really tough (first reading), let us ask Jesus to take us by the hand (Gospel) and bind up our wounds (Psalm)
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
-------------------------------
This
coming Friday, Feb 12, is the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Year of the
Ox.
Happy
Niu Year!
------------------------------
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 7th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Hebei
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, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
-----------------------
----------------------
Sat Feb 6
Yesterday afternoon I joined Simon & Sr Louise (my social
worker assistants) and Emily (MercyHK helper) for a most worthwhile and
encouraging meeting with the local district councilor of my area, Frank
Ho who during this lockdown period has worked tirelessly to help
people in the area. Frank especially shares the concern of MercyHK for homeless
people in the district.
I was very sad the past few days to learn that two African women
who pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking lost their cases and now face extra
long sentences (... since not eligible for 1/3 reduction for a guilty plea).
Both were unwise to plead not guilty, especially the one who had drugs inside
her body (... no one, to my knowledge, has ever been given a "Not
guilty" decision by a HK jury for drugs inside the body). Both are mothers
of young children. Maybe they can try an appeal against sentence, but very
difficult ...
6-year
olds to be taught about National Security
Coffee
with God! - daily readings
and reflections
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:199.
Some people attempt to flee from reality, taking refuge in their own little
world; others react to it with destructive violence. Yet "between
selfish indifference and violent protest there is always another possible
option: that of dialogue. Dialogue between generations; dialogue among
our people, for we are that people; readiness to give and receive, while
remaining open to the truth. A country flourishes when constructive dialogue
occurs between its many rich cultural components: popular culture, university
culture, youth culture, artistic culture, technological culture, economic
culture, family culture and media culture"
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Sirach
35-37: Be generous as the Lord has been generous to
you.
Be cheerful when you make a gift to the Lord. The humble person's prayer pierces the
clouds,
so love the Lord with a humble heart. If a property has no fence, it will be
plundered.
If a man has no wife, he is like a boat without an anchor. Be careful when you consult other people.
After all consultation, follow the advice of your own heart.
Lord, please give me a cheerful
and humble heart
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
86: Turn your ear, O Lord, and give answer
for I am poor and needy.
O Lord, you are good and forgiving,
full of love to all who call to you. All the nations shall come to adore you
and glorify your name, O Lord,
you who alone are God. Show me, Lord, your way, and guide my heart
so that I may walk in your truth. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my
heart
for your love to me has been great. O give your strength to your servant
and save your handmaid's son.
Dear Lord, thank you for
all your
love
Listen
2
Thessalonians 3.10-16:
We gave you a rule when we were with you:
not to let anyone have any food if he refused to do any work. Yet we hear that some of you are living in
idleness, doing no work themselves but interfering with everyone else's
work. In the Lord Jesus Christ, we order and call on
such people
to go on quietly working and earning the food that they eat. Never grow tired of doing what is right.
May the Lord of peace give you peace always
and everywhere
Jesus, don't let me interfere in other
people's business
Listen
Matthew
26.69-75: Peter went to the place where the religious
leaders had Jesus on trial.
A young woman in the courtyard of the place said to him
"You are a friend of the Galilean". In front of the woman and people
around her
Peter said "I don't know what you're talking about". Peter went to the gateway of the
place, where another woman said to people around her "This man is a
friend of the Galilean".
Peter replied strongly "I don't know the man". Not long after this a group of
people said to Peter
"You are his friend. We can tell by your Galilean accent". Then Peter even more strongly
replied "I do not know the man". At that very moment, a rooster
crowed.
Peter remembered Jesus' words "Before the rooster crows, you will
deny me three times". Peter went outside and wept loudly.
Jesus, please help me not to deny you. Give me courage to say "I am a Christian"
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Peter's encounters above took place on a cold night around a fire (c.f. Lk 22.55). Which is why Jesus chose another occasion around a fire for Peter to make a triple expression of love to make up for his triple denial. See my reflection on Jn 21.15
---------------------------
For the rest of his life maybe Peter did not exactly
enjoy the sound of a rooster crowing!
------------------------------
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 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, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
Fri Feb 5
Most of my time yesterday was dedicated to homeless people:
a meeting in the morning, then 2 more meetings in the afternoon ... the 2nd in
the company of a media team from Sing Tao
whose report will be linked here in the coming days. And see 
below!
Since the Jordan lockdown, there has been much publicity about the work of MercyHK for homeless people in Jordan/Yau Ma Tei ... for which I am most grateful to all the media teams involved. Please God this publicity will help HK society (especially the HK govt) be more aware of the many social problems in Jordan/YMT: homelessness, drugs, theft, sub-standard housing, family problems, isolation of people with mental/health issues, unjust work practices, discrimination ... and the No. 1 problem: unemployment. As a result of this publicity, many kind HK people have been moved to help MercyHK ... new volunteers, more items for our 2nd hand shop at 191 Temple Street... and financial donations (which have topped HK$250,000 in the past week or so .... almost enough to pay our rent bills for 2 months for 40+ rooms for 60+ homeless people ... God bless all donors and helpers!)
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
198.
Approaching, speaking, listening, looking at, coming to know and understand one
another, and to find common ground: all
these things are summed up in the one word "dialogue". If we
want to encounter and help one another, we have to dialogue. There is no need
for me to stress the benefits of dialogue. I have only to think of what our
world would be like without the patient dialogue of the many generous persons
who keep families and communities together. Unlike disagreement and conflict,
persistent and courageous dialogue does not make headlines, but quietly helps
the world to live much better than we imagine.
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Sirach 32-34: If you are chosen for an important job,
don't let it go to your head. When you speak, keep to the point.
Say much in a few words. Reflect before you act.
Look before you leap. Travel broadens the mind.
Ask God's protection when you travel.
Lord, please bless everyone who
is travelling today
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
85: I will hear what the Lord God has to say,
a voice that speaks of peace.
Peace for his people and his friends
and those who turn to him in their hearts. His help is near for those who love him
and his glory will dwell in our land.
Mercy and faithfulness have met.
Justice and peace have embraced. Faithfulness shall spring from the earth
and justice shall look down from heaven. The Lord will make us prosper
and our earth shall yield its fruit. Justice shall march before him
and peace shall follow his steps
Lord, please give more peace to
our world
Listen
2
Thessalonians 3.1-5: Pray that the Lord's message may spread
quickly,
and be received with honor as it was by yourselves. Pray that we may be protected from the
interference of bigoted people. May your hearts focus on the love of God our
Father
and the fortitude of Christ
Jesus, don't let bigoted people
influence me
Listen
Matthew
26.57-68: The men who arrested Jesus took him to a
meeting of the religious leaders. The leaders wanted to condemn Jesus to
death,
even if they had to use false evidence. Jesus remained silent before
their accusations.
Then the main leader challenged Jesus:
"Are you the Saviour, the Son of God?" Jesus replied "Yes".
The main leader then called out "We have heard him claim to be of Divine origin. This is blasphemy".
The rest of the leaders shouted
"He should die".
Then they spat in Jesus' face and hit him with their fists.
Jesus, thank you for submitting yourself to
insult and spittle
for the salvation of the world
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: Only once in my life has anyone spat in my face ... a long time ago in Australia as I was walking on the street .... not a very nice experience. In Jesus' case ... the spittle was from one of his creatures. A bigger insult than if a son/daughter spat in the face of their mother/father.
-------------------------
Sign
seen yesterday in a guest house of Alhambra building, Yau Ma Tei where MercyHK
is renting 40+ rooms for 60+ homeless people:
-------------------------
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 5th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Guizhou
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 5th of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of Chad
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
----------------------------
Thu Feb 4
A long but most worthwhile day yesterday: a 2 hour meeting with a
media friend in the morning, then 2pm-7pm "on the road" with a team
from RTHK (whose report will be aired LNY). Morning friend produced this
report which has had 240,000 views.
Shameful:
UK cuts foreign aid by 30%
Scroll
down for 45 min video: Rape
& torture in Xinjiang camps (c.f. treatment of Chinese women by Japanese
soldiers)
Pope
Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
197. Viewed in this way, politics
is something more noble than posturing, marketing and media spin. These
sow nothing but division, conflict and a bleak cynicism incapable of mobilizing
people to pursue a common goal. At times, in thinking of the future, we do well
to ask ourselves, "Why I am doing this?", "What is my real
aim?" For as time goes on, reflecting on the past, the questions will not
be: "How many people endorsed me?", "How many voted for
me?", "How many had a positive image of me?" The real, and
potentially painful, questions will be, "How much love did I put into my
work?" "What did I do for the progress of our people?" "What
mark did I leave on the life of society?" "What real bonds did I
create?" "What positive forces did I unleash?" "How much
social peace did I sow?" "What good did I achieve in the position that
was entrusted to me?"
-------------------------
The Book Blog: 4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Sirach 29-31: Help others in their time of need.
When people ask you for help, do not turn them away. Do not let your children grow up wild.
Teach them self control and self-discipline from their earliest years. Good health is better than silver and gold.
Better to be poor and healthy than rich and sick. Do not give in to brooding and fretting when
things go wrong.
Even in the saddest situation, look for light at the end of the tunnel. Avoid jealously and anger.
Jealously and anger will shorten your life. A moderate diet will help you sleep well.
Gluttony produces sleeplessness, biliousness and grumpiness. Wine was made to cheer our hearts.
But drinking to excess will reduce your strength.
Lord, please help me be
moderate with food and drink
Recording
Psalm 84: How lovely is your sacred temple, Lord.
My heart is longing to spend time in your holy dwelling. Even sparrows and swallows are your
temple guests.
They build homes for their young near your altar. Blessed are the people who live and work in
your temple.
And blessed, too, are people who keep the memory of your temple in
their hearts. As they go through the troubles of life,
you give them strength to face the trials of each day. Lord, one day within your temple
is better than a thousand anywhere else.
Dear God, thank you for special
places of prayer
Recording
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
Matthew 26.47-56: While Jesus was still speaking, Judas
arrived.
Judas had with him a large crowd of men with swords and clubs,
sent by the religious leaders. Judas had told these men
"The one I kiss is the man. Take him".
So Judas went up to Jesus, said "Greetings, Master" and kissed
him.
The men then seized Jesus.
Jesus said to them "Am I a robber that you needed to capture me
with swords and clubs? Day after day I was openly teaching in the
Temple".
All of Jesus' apostles then deserted him and ran away.
Jesus, when I feel I am being
treated unfairly by other people,
may your arrest give me strength
Listen
---------------
At
one stage during my 5 hours with a RTHK team yesterday (2pm-7pm) I took a few
minutes leave to buy some items at a grocery store where seniors get a special
discount on Wednesdays. My first time to go into Park 'n Shop wired up with a
microphone!
--------------------
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 4th 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 4th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Mozambique
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the
week:
Jesus, today, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
----------------------------
Wed Feb 3
Jesus, on this Feast of St Blase, please bless our throats!
Yesterday morning I was at Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre visiting
some very special prisoners in both the women's and men's sections. Some of them
have been in detention for decades ... and are unlikely to ever be
released.
On some recent media articles concerning my work for the homeless
during the Jordan lockdown, most unfortunately, some unbalanced people have
posted hateful comments about Fr John
Kwan who is one of the most highly respected pastors in HK and a good friend of mine (we used to play tennis together when I was at Notre Dame in
Kowloon). Yesterday I phoned John to express my concern and unhappiness about
these comments ....which he feels are motivated by a vicious agenda. And I am
asking future media interviewers to monitor comments or else our appointments
are off. (Disclaimer: None of the recent interviews have been instigated by
myself; all were requested by journalists)
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
195: "If
I can help at least one person to have a better life, that already justifies the
offering of my life"
------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
Seeking Unity
Unity starts with accountability
-----------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Sirach 25-28:
Happy the husband of a really good wife.
A good wife is the joy of her husband. Do not praise a person before they have
spoken.
A person's speech reveals what sort of person is speaking. Among stupid people look for an opportunity to
leave,
but among thoughtful people take your time. Sarcasm and abuse are the mark of an arrogant
person.
Resentment and anger are bad for everyone. Forgive others if they have offended you.
Then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Avoid quarrelling and losing your temper.
Do not let your mouth speak scandal.
Lord, please give me the wisdom
to control my speech
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
82-83: God says to corrupt officials:
"How long will you judge unjustly and mistreat the poor?
You should do justice for the weak and the orphan.
You should defend the afflicted and the needy.
You should rescue the weak and the poor.
You should set them free from the hand of the wicked". O God, please protect your people from
corruption and injustice.
Save us also from attack by other nations.
Let everyone know that you are the Lord of all the earth.
Lord, please stop corrupt
officials from hurting people
Listen
2
Thessalonians 1.1-5: From Paul, Silvanus and Timothy to the Church
in Thessalonika:
grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We take special pride in you because of your
perseverance,
despite persecutions and other troubles you have to face. People who refuse to accept the Good News are
facing an eternal penalty: to be excluded forever from the presence of the
Lord. So we pray that God will help you be the sort of
people he wants you to be. In this way our Lord Jesus Christ will be
glorified in you
Jesus, help me "keep going"
when trials come
Listen
Matthew
26.30-46: After their last meal, Jesus said to his
apostles
"Tonight all of you will desert me".
Peter said "I will never desert you".
Jesus replied "Tonight before the rooster crows,
you will deny me three times". They came to a place with olive
trees called Gethsemane.
Jesus took Peter, James and John to a part of that area
and asked them to pray with him. Jesus was overcome with sadness
and fear.
He said to them "Sadness is filling my heart, as if my heart is
dying.
Please support me as I pray." Then he fell on his face and
prayed for about an hour:
"Father, don't let this suffering continue. But your will be
done". He stood up and found that the
apostles were asleep.
He said to them "Couldn't you stay awake one hour to support
me?" Three times he prayed the same way.
Three times the apostles went to sleep. Then he said "Get
ready. The one who is betraying me is coming".
Jesus, please help me give more
time to prayer
01
02
.jpg)
Reflection on the above readings: Our feeble brains are not capable of understanding the intensity of Jesus' mental suffering
---------------------------
After all the activities of the past few days I was really
grateful for the chance to spend some time at Tuen Mun church yesterday after my
visit to Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre. But my stay was cut short when a team of
workers began cleaning the church with much machinery and noise!
-------------------------
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 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, 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)) (blocked by FB Oct 2020)
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
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ .