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,
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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
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Ph 
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EU
HK:how
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Name
& shame
JesusTower
GoodNewsForPoor
Dr
Jesus
China8
SimpleBible
MatteoRicci
Tues March 30
Yesterday morning I had a meeting with a kind friend who is going
to help me in my office work for prisoners. One job is to put my notes into a
data base. God bless this project!
New
post from Camay who is making a remarkable recovery from stage four lung
cancer.
The man
who seized power in Burma - Jesus, please zap him as you zapped Saul on the
way to Damascus!
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
285.
In my fraternal meeting, which I gladly recall, with the Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb,
"we resolutely declared that religions must never incite war, hateful
attitudes, hostility and extremism, nor must they incite violence or the
shedding of blood. These tragic
realities are the consequence of a deviation from religious teachings.
They result from a political manipulation of religions and from interpretations
made by religious groups who, in the course of history, have taken advantage of
the power of religious sentiment in the hearts of men and women. God does not
want his name to be used to terrorize people"
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Tues of Holy Week.
Isaiah 46-49: The Lord
called me before I was born. From my mother's womb he knew my name. While I was
thinking that I had toiled in vain, all the while my cause was with the Lord.
The Lord who formed me in the womb and assigned me to rescue his people, that
same Lord said to me: "I
will make you the light of the nations, so that my salvation will reach
to the ends of the earth"
Jesus, please help me understand how
these words refer to you
Psalm
71: In you, O Lord, I take refuge. Please
hear me and help me. Be
a rock where I can take refuge. Rescue
me from people
who want to hurt me. It
is you, O Lord, who are my hope. In you I have trusted since I was young. From
my mother's womb you have been my help. My hope has always been in you. Now that
I am old, please do not forget me. Now that my strength fails, do not abandon
me. To you I will sing with the harp. All day long my tongue will tell of your
goodness to me. Jesus,
please help me understand how these words refer to you
Recording
Mark
14.66-72: 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 were with Jesus, the
man from Nazareth". Peter replied "I don't know what you're talking
about". Peter went to the gateway of the place, where the woman saw him
again and said to people around her "This man is one of them".
Peter denied it. 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
then wept loudly.
Jesus, please help me not to deny you. Give me courage to say "I am a
Christian"
Listen
Luke
22.63-65: The men
who were guarding Jesus mocked
him and beat him. They blindfolded him. "Since you are a
prophet", they said, "tell us who hit you just then". And they
continued heaping insults on him.
Jesus, please stop me from making offensive fun of other people
Recording
Luke 22.66 - 23.12: At
daybreak there was a meeting of the religious leaders. Jesus was brought before
them. They asked him "Are you the Son of God?". He replied
"Yes". They said "We have heard his blasphemy from his own
lips". They took him to the Roman governor, Pilate, and made many false
accusations against him. Pilate said "I find no case against him".
Jesus was then taken to King Herod who
made fun of him and sent him back to Pilate.
Jesus, on trial before the leaders, before Herod and before Pilate, please help
all prisoners who are on trial today
Recording
Reflection on the above readings: When someone makes fun of us, we react, internally if not externally. Being made fun of is not a pleasant experience. And most of us have to admit to having made fun of others. But human hurt feelings pale into insignificance when compared with what Jesus must have felt. The Creator of the Universe being ridiculed by creatures. A loving and kind parent being ridiculed by a son or daughter .... only a faint image of what happened 2,000 years ago this week.
------------------------------
One way to help people in most difficult situations for
whom we have no way of helping: join them in a simple prayer "Jesus, please
help us"! .... and ... difficult doors start to open! Jesus has the key to
every type of door! Make that: he IS the Key to every door!
-------------------------------
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 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, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon April 6
A
moving experience last night: The very first meeting for a very special group at
the Doctor Jesus Centre, 187 Temple Street, Jordan. A group of 10 drug addicts,
all of them jobless, all but one homeless. Meeting consisted of some sharing, a
meal ... and a one minute prayer in the centre's prayer room. As the group
gathered on Temple Street about to go up the stairs to the centre ...
Providentially! ....perfect timing!.... along came Deacon John Lam, a
prison chaplain, with his dear wife Mabel. They joined and help run the
gathering ... just as they used to help at the Pizza Party for homeless people
in the past. Jesus, please bless this group!
Helping MercyHK rent rooms for
homeless people - Carousell:
Shop 1
Shop
2 (updated lists)
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
283. Sincere and humble worship of God
"bears fruit not in
discrimination, hatred and violence,
but in respect for the sacredness of life, respect for the dignity and freedom
of others, and loving commitment to the welfare of all"
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. Monday of Holy Week.
Isaiah 42: Here
is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom my soul delights. I have
endowed him with my spirit that he may bring true justice to the nations. He
does not cry out or shout aloud. He
does not extinguish the wavering flame. I have called him to serve the
cause of right, to open the eyes of the blind, to free captives from prison.
Jesus, Servant of the Father, you are the Saviour of the world.
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
27: The Lord is my
light and my help, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life,
before whom shall I shrink? Though an army encamp against me, even then would I
trust. There is one thing I ask of the Lord, for this I long: to live in the
house of the Lord all the days of my life. It is your face, O Lord, that I seek.
Hide not your face. I
am sure I will see your goodness in the land of the living. Hope in the
Lord, hold firm and take heart. Hope in the Lord!
Jesus, may we pray this psalm in time of trial, just as you did
Recording
Mark
14.53-65: 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
"I am". The 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
John
12.1-8: Six
days before the Passover, Jesus went to
Bethany, for a dinner at the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Mary
put expensive ointment on Jesus' feet. Then she wiped his feet with her hair.
Judas Iscariot, the disciple who was going to betray Jesus, said "Why
wasn't this ointment sold and the money given to the poor?" He
said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief.
He was in charge of the moneybag and would steal from it. Jesus replied
"Leave her alone. She is anticipating and honoring my burial. Besides, the
poor will always be with you. But I will soon be gone".
Jesus, may we "anoint your feet" by serving the poor
Recording
Reflection on the above readings: We can wash Jesus' feet ... by serving him in the poor ... by real service of the real poor, not insincere lip-service like that of Judas
-------------------------
Yesterday
morning as I was leaving St Paul's Mass Cente in Yau Ma Tei after Communion
Services, the secretary gave me an envelope which contained a card and a
donation for MercyHK to help homeless people. The card was from a parish worker
of Ward Memorial Methodist Church
in YMT who had seen publicity about MercyHK. I phoned the donor and said
thank you to her. Christians helping each other ... Jesus is smiling.
--------------------
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 29th of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Chongqing
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, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
-----------------------
----------------------
March 28
PALM
SUNDAY
1918
Spanish Flu historical documentary (10.5m
views) - medical advice continually ignored by governments. Hard to believe this
really happened! A lesson for our Covid-19 world.
NowTV
heritage exploration with 3 good friends of mine (John and Paul and
journalist!)
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:276.
The Church, while respecting the autonomy of political life, does not restrict
her mission to the private sphere. On the contrary, "she
cannot and must not remain on the sidelines" in the building of a
better world, or fail to "reawaken the spiritual energy" that can
contribute to the betterment of society. It
is true that religious ministers must not engage in the party politics that are
the proper domain of the laity, but neither can they renounce the political
dimension of life itself, which involves a constant attention to the common
good and a concern for integral human development. The Church "has a public
role over and above her charitable and educational activities"
Bible Study: Luke 5
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Palm Sunday
Isaiah
50: The Lord
has opened my ear to hear his message. The Lord has given me words to proclaim
his message. For my part, I made no resistance, neither did I turn away. I
offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who tore at my beard. I
did not protect my face from insult and spittle. I set my face like
flint. The Lord will help me.
Jesus, please help me understand how these words refer to you
My
recording of this reading
Psalm 22: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? I call to you for help, but day and night you give no reply. I am a worm and not a man. Everyone who sees me makes fun of me. They taunt me: "He trusted in the Lord, why doesn't the Lord help him?" Like water I am poured out, my bones no longer connected. My throat is parched, my tongue sticks to my jaws. Many evil people attack me. They make holes in my hands and my feet. They await my death. They divide my clothing among them, they throw a dice for my robe.
Yet
I know Lord, that you are good and holy. I know how you heard the cries of
our ancestors and you helped them. It was you who took me from the womb and
entrusted me to my mother's breast. To you I was committed from my birth, from
my mother's womb you have been my God. Lord, I trust in you even now. I trust
you will not scorn my prayer. Even now I praise you as my Creator. May all the
nations know and worship you.
Lord, please help people who are in big trouble right now, especially people
whose lives are in danger
Philippians 2.6-11: O Lord, unite us in your love and keep our minds in you. O Lord, unite us in your love and keep our minds in you. Though you were God in state divine you did not cling to what you were. No, you shed your glory's shine so as to live just like a slave. O Lord, unite us in your love and keep our minds in you. You came on earth in human form and you shared our troubled life. A humbler man there never was, even in death obedient. Yes, Lord, death upon a cross, yes, upon a cross.
Therefore are you raised on high and you have the name of names. At that name should bend the knee and tongue confess: Jesus Christ is LORD. And tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD. And tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD. To the glory of God the Father
Luke
19.28-40: When
Jesus came near to Jerusalem, he sent two disciples to a nearby village to get a
donkey colt which no one had ever ridden. Jesus sat on the colt and began the
descent from the Mount of Olives down the hill to Jerusalem. The
disciples spread their clothes on the road, and joyfully praised God for all the
miracles they had seen. They cried out "Blessings
on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!" Some
religious leaders told Jesus to stop the disciples from calling out. Jesus
replied "If these keep silence, the stones will cry out"
Jesus, you who came in the name of the Lord, we praise and love you
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings: A
beautiful prayer/song to use often during this week - words of the "good
thief" on the cross: 
Jesus,
remember me when you come into your kingdom
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
-------------------------------
------------------------------
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 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, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
-----------------------
----------------------
Sat March 27
Yesterday morning I was a guest speaker at Shun
Tak College, Hung Shui Kiu, Yuen Long. A very happy place with most
attentive students. For Lent the college took up a large collection of items for
the poor. A teacher and two students in a delivery van brought the items and
myself to MercyHK's second hand shop at 191 Temple Street, Jordan, yesterday
afternoon. God bless Sun Tak! (&
see 
below)
Coffee
with God! - daily readings
and reflections
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
273. The root of modern totalitarianism is to be found in the denial of the transcendent dignity of the human person who, as the visible image of the invisible God, is therefore by his very nature the subject of rights that no one may violate - no individual, group, class, nation or state. Not even the majority of the social body may violate these rights, by going against the minority
Holy
Week:
Prayer before a Crucifix (c.f. Cross
& virus)
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Jeremiah
7:
At the gate of the Temple in Jerusalem,
Jeremiah proclaimed the word of the Lord: "You people of Judah who come here to worship,
amend your behavior and actions,
and then I, the Lord, will meet you here in this Temple. Do not exploit the stranger, the orphan and the widow.
Do not follow alien gods, do not break the Commandments. If you don't care about bad behavior
and yet keep on coming to my Temple for worship,
your worship is useless
and you are turning this Temple into a robbers' den. This nation refuses to listen to the Lord.
Sincerity has vanished since worship and behavior are not related."
Lord, please help me "practise
what I preach"
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
126: When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage,
it seemed like a dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
on our lips there were songs. What marvels the Lord worked for
us.
Indeed we were glad. Those who are sowing in tears
will sing when they reap. They go out, full of tears, carrying seed for
the sowing.
They come back, full of song, carrying their sheaves. Dear God, please bless all
people who are sorrowful as they work
Listen
Hebrews
11.1 - 12-15:
Only faith can keep us going. Only faith
helped Abraham and other famous people in the Scriptures to keep going. So many of them were weak people who were
given strength by God, to be brave when life became difficult. With so many witnesses in a great cloud all
around us, we too should keep running in the race we have started. We
should get rid of everything that slows us down. Keep focusing on Jesus. He is running beside
us. His example going to the cross gives us courage. Try to live at peace with everyone. Don't let
any seed of bitterness begin to grown and make trouble. This can poison a
whole community
Jesus, help me remember your presence
in my heart
Listen
John
11.46-54: The religious leaders had a meeting to decide
what to do about Jesus.
They said "If this man keeps on doing miracles, everyone will follow him. Then
the Romans will see him as a threat, and they will wipe out our
nation". The main leader said "It is better
for one man to die for the people, than for the whole nation to be
destroyed". These words had more meaning than the leader
realized, since Jesus was to die not just for the nation, but for the
whole world. Since the leaders wanted to kill him, Jesus
went to a remote area near the desert, and stayed there with his disciples
Jesus, please help me better understand how
your death saved the world
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Let's focus in the coming week on Jesus' last week ... the most sacred week in the history of the world
---------------------------
At Shun Tak College yesterday, before my sharing,
some Form 5 students put on an excellent mini-play about beggars by the side of
the road. At the start of my sharing I mentioned how, a couple of hours before,
I had bought some food for a beggar near the entrance of Austin MTR station
------------------------------
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 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, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
Fri March 26
Yesterday morning I was at the High Court for the case of a local HK man. Then a
most encouraging lunch time prayer and meeting with Camay & Yuki, Sr Louis,
Eddie Chan and Simon - concerning the furnishing of MercyHK's new centre at 187
Temple Street - to be called the Doctor Jesus Centre. Camay's
latest FB post details her continued recovery from stage four cancer of the
lung.
Yesterday
afternoon there was another Thursday gathering at the Ginkgo Restaurant on 1/F
of Alhambra building in YMT for about 20 of the homeless people in accommodation at Alhambra provided by MercyHK. Theme of the gathering was: the
creation/finding of jobs for homeless people .... for which Ginkgo and
MercyHK are beginning a joint venture.
O.M.I.
connection over the years Vatican Evangelization Congregation
(with note at end asking prayers for Superior General Fr
Louie Lougen who is due to have diverticulitis surgery on March 30)
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
268.
"The arguments against the death penalty are numerous and well-known. The
Church has rightly called attention to several of these, such as the possibility
of judicial error and the use made of such punishment by totalitarian and
dictatorial regimes as a means of suppressing political dissidence or
persecuting religious and cultural minorities, all victims whom the legislation
of those regimes consider delinquents. All Christians and people of good
will are today called to work not only for the abolition of the death penalty,
legal or illegal, in all its forms, but also to work
for the improvement of prison conditions, out of respect for the human
dignity of persons deprived of their freedom. I would link this to life
imprisonment A life sentence is a secret death penalty".
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Jeremiah 3-6: The country has no rain
because its people have forgotten the Lord. The people refuse to repent
and so the land has many sorrows. Stop and think about the past: which was the
good way to live?
Follow that way now and you will find peace for yourselves and the land.
Lord, please bless our
land, by helping us be better people.
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
125: Those who put their trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, that cannot be shaken.
Jerusalem, the mountains surround her,
so the Lord surrounds his people, now and forever.
Lord, please help us be
more aware of your protecting presence
Listen
Hebrews 10.32-39:
Remember all the suffering you experienced
after you became Christians - the insults and violence, the loss of
your possessions. Don't give up
now. Keep going in your
Christian life.
You and I are not the sort of people who give up.
We are the sort of people who stay faithful until our souls are saved
Jesus, help me keep going,
despite difficulties
Listen
Mark
8.22-26: In the village of
Bethsaida, a blind man was
brought to Jesus.
His friends begged Jesus to touch him. Jesus took the man by the hand and led him
outside the town.
Jesus put spittle on the man's eyes
and placed his hands on the man's eyes. "Can you see anything?" asked Jesus.
The man was starting to see and replied "I can see people. They look
like trees, but they are walking about". Jesus then placed his hands on the man's eyes
again, and he saw clearly. He was healed and could see everything clearly.
Jesus, heal my friend
....(name)...who is blind
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: "Starting to see" (Gospel) teaches us that sometimes (maybe most of the time!) healing is progressive rather than instantaneous
-------------------------
Since my old sandals were no longer able to be used, I
bought a new pair two days ago ... happy to see they have on them a yellow
"M"
... which for me means McD's who have been so good to 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 26th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Xinjiang
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 26th of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of Togo
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
----------------------------
Thu March 25
The Annunciation
9
months to Christmas!
Yesterday
morning I was at the High Court building for the case of an African man before
the Court of Appeal. I came away sad after the application was dismissed. His
drug trip to HK back in 2015 was arranged by "Happy"
Covid-19:
How Tailwan succeeded while UK failed
Everything's a miracle!
The miracle of our skin!
Pope
Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
263.
There is yet another way to eliminate others, one aimed not at countries but at
individuals. It is the death penalty. Saint John Paul II stated clearly and
firmly that the death penalty is inadequate from a moral standpoint and no
longer necessary from that of penal justice. There can be no stepping back
from this position. Today we state clearly that "the
death penalty is inadmissible" and the Church is firmly committed to
calling for its abolition worldwide.
-------------------------
The Book Blog: 4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
c.f. readings for the Annunciation
Isaiah 7: A foreign king and
his army attacked Jerusalem. The king of Judah and his
people were full of fear. God told Isaiah to say to the king of Judah:
"Keep calm, have no fear. You will not be defeated. The Lord himself gives
you a sign of his protection: a
maiden is with child and will give birth to a son whom
she will call God-with-us."
Lord, please help me understand how you are God-with-me every day
My recording of this reading
Psalm
40: You do not ask for
sacrifice and offerings, but an open ear. You do not ask for holocaust and
victim. Instead, here am I. In the scroll of the book it
stands written that I should do your will. My God, I delight in your law
in the depth of my heart. Your justice I have proclaimed in the great assembly.
My lips I have not sealed, you know it, O Lord. I have not hidden your justice
in my heart, but declared your faithful help. I have not hidden your love and
your truth from the great assembly.
Here I am, Lord. I come to do your will
Recording
Luke
1.26-38 (a) In the sixth
month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of
Nazareth in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary who was betrothed to a man named
Joseph. The angel said to her "Mary, Rejoice! You have been greatly blessed
by God. You
are to conceive and have a son whom you must name Jesus. He will be great
and will be called the Son of God". Mary said to the angel, "How can
this happen since I am a virgin?"
Recording
Luke
1.26-38 (b) The angel
replied "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High
will specially bless you. Know this too: your cousin Elizabeth has, in her old
age, conceived a son, and is now in her sixth month". "I am the
handmaid of the Lord", said Mary, "let
what you have said, be done for me". And the angel left her.
God the Son, thank you for becoming a baby in Mary's womb
Recording
Reflection on the above readings: Gentle Woman (Carey Landry)
Homily of Pope John Paul on March 25, 2000 in the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth
---------------
As I grow older and forgetful and clumsy, I sometimes think that
the only thing I am still really good at is ..... sleeping!
--------------------
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 25th 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 25th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Comoros
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the
week:
Jesus, today, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
----------------------------
Wed March 24
After the monthly O.M.I. overnight retreat at Sheung Shui
finished around midday yesterday, I went to nearby Lo Wu women's prison and
spent four hours visiting quite a number of prisoners there. Today I'm due to be
at the High Court building with an African man from Stanley Stanley prison for
an hearing by the Court of Appeal.
FB
update from Camay, who is
making a remarkable recovery from stage four lung cancer. Jesus, please keep on
blessing Camay!
Updated financial report for MercyHK is here
Pope Francis - Fratelli
Tutti:
258. We can no longer think of war as a solution, because its risks will probably always be greater than its supposed benefits. In view of this, it is very difficult nowadays to invoke the rational criteria elaborated in earlier centuries to speak of the possibility of a "just war". Never again war!
------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
The passing of time
Measured from Greenwich, time zones are marked out round the earth
-----------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Jeremiah 2:
This is what God told Jeremiah to shout out
loud in Jerusalem: "The Lord says:
I remember the love you used to have for me.
But now you have forgotten me. Priests and prophets have no knowledge of me.
King and princes have rebelled against me. Not only have you abandoned me,
you now follow false gods. You have abandoned the fountain of living
water
in exchange for muddy pools."
Lord, please don't let
anyone else or anything else ever replace you as number one in my life
My
recording of this reading
Psalm 124: "If the Lord had not been on our
side",
this is Israel's song. If the Lord had not been on our side
when people rose against us, then would they have swallowed us alive
when they were angry with us. Blessed be the Lord who did not let us become
a prey for their teeth. Our life, like a bird, has escaped
from the snare of the hunter. Indeed the snare has been broken
and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord
who made heaven and earth.
Thank you, Lord,
for all the times you have rescued me from trouble
Listen
Hebrews
10.21-25: Jesus is the supreme High Priest of the whole
house of God.
As we enter that house, let us have sincere hearts that are filled with
faith and hope. Let us be concerned for each other,
encouraging each other to do good. Do not stay away from the meetings as some
people do,
but encourage each other to attend
Jesus, may my life encourage others to
do good
Listen
Mark
7.31-37: Jesus traveled through the area south of the
Sea of Galilee.
A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him. Jesus took the man aside in private, away from
the crowd.
He put his fingers into the man's ears and put spittle on his tongue.
Then he prayed and said "Be opened".
The man's ears were opened and his speech became normal. The people said "He has done all things
well. He makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak".
Jesus, heal (..name..)
who is "deaf and dumb"
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: In human history, only Jesus - or Jesus through his followers - has been able to heal deaf and dumb people.
---------------------------
To go with today's Gospel, with
respect.
Two elderly deaf men chatting.
Man 1: I just bought a new wrist watch.
Man 2, pointing to the watch: How much did it cost?
Man 1: Half past eleven
-------------------------
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 24th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Inner
Mongolia
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 24th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Zambia
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
--------------------------------
-------------------------------
Tues March 23
MercyHK's new meeting room - "The Doctor Jesus Centre" - at 187 Temple Street, Jordan is now in the setting up stage ....with meetings being held the past two days to discuss how to prepare it for multi-purpose use: office space, meeting area, activity area, space for prison books ... and ... most importantly... a prayer area to pray for healing.
Since last night I am at Seung Shui for an O.M.I. monthly retreat ... which finishes with lunch today ....after which I hope to visit nearby Lo Wu women's prison.
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Jeremiah
1: Jeremiah lived in a
village not far from Jerusalem.
Jeremiah's father was a priest. God said to Jeremiah:
"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.
I have appointed you as prophet to the nations." Jeremiah said to God:
"Lord, I do not know how to speak.
I am so young." God then touched
Jeremiah's mouth and said:
"I now put my words into your mouth.
Go and tell the people everything I ask you to speak. Do not be dismayed by
anyone.
I am making you strong. You must confront
Judah's kings, priests and people.
They will oppose you, but will not overcome you,
for I am with you."
Lord, please give special
courage to people who speak your message for the world
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
123: To you have I lifted up my
eyes,
you who dwell in the heavens. My eyes, like the eyes of slaves
on the hand of their lords. Like the eyes of a servant on the hand of her
mistress,
so our eyes are on the Lord our God till he show us mercy. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
We are filled with contempt. Indeed all too full is our soul with the scorn
of the rich,
with the proud man's disdain.
Lord, please protect poor
people from being exploited by rich people
Listen
Hebrews
8-9:
Jesus' priesthood is part of the new covenant
predicted in the Scriptures: "See, the days are coming - it is the
Lord who speaks - when I will establish a new covenant with the House of
Israel". Jesus
has come as High Priest of all the
blessings that were predicted would be part of the new covenant. He has offered not the blood of animals like
priests of the old covenant, but his own blood, by which he won our
redemption. His blood can purify our inner self from dead
actions,
to help us in our life of dedication to the living God.
Jesus, by your precious blood, purify my heart
and protect me
Listen
Mark
7.24-30:
Jesus went to the district of Tyre.
A foreign woman fell at his feet and begged him to expel a devil from her
daughter. Jesus said "The children (= Jews)
should be fed first. It's not right to give the children's food to the
house dogs (= foreigners)". She replied "Ah yes, Sir, but the house
dogs under the table can eat the children's scraps". Jesus said to her "For expressing such
great faith, you can go home happy. The devil has gone out of your
daughter". She went home
and found the child lying on a bed, and the devil gone
Jesus, please give sick people
more faith in you
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings: Re the power of Jesus'
blood - famous song by a London tramp: Jesus'
Blood Never Failed Me Yet (need to turn up volume, and wait ...)
------------------------------
Almost every day more than one person points out that my
face mask needs to cover my nose. My problem: I have a big nose ... and the mask
keeps slipping
-------------------------------
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 23rd
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Djibouti
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 23rd of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Guangxi
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
-----------------------
----------------------
Ongoing 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.
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Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡
頌 恆 神 父
jdwomi@gmail.com
HK
mobile +852- 67095674
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