V2Catholic.com
A voice for the poor
by HK prison chaplain 胡頌恆神父Dr
Jesus Centre 187 Temple St Jordan
Fr John Wotherspoon
O.M.I.
jdwomi@gmail.com
+852 67095674
Imitating
Pope Francis
Tues Dec 12
On
this day in 1531, something
very special happened in Mexico City *** I
was privileged to visit Guadalupe before and after my
anti-drug campaign trip to South America five years ago. Before, to ask for
protection and help; after, to say thank you! And
as I now prepare for another anti-drug campaign trip ( 27/12 to 7/2 ... 13
countries in 6 weeks!) I ask the protection of the same loving Mother! Mary
of Guadalupe, pray for us!
Pope's
new climate change letter "Laudate
Deum:
62. The Bible tells us: "God saw
everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good". His is
"the earth with all that is in it". For this reason, he tells us that,
"the land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine; with me
you are but aliens and tenants". Hence, "responsibility for God's
earth means that human beings, endowed
with intelligence, must respect the laws of nature and the delicate equilibria
existing between the creatures of this world"
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Maccabees
3: Judas led the people in
many successful
battles.
He often said that it is easy for a great number of soldiers to be defeated
by a few. "Victory in war does not depend on the
size of an army. It is from heaven that strength comes".
As Judas' fame spread, King Antiochus ordered
a huge army to attack Judas.
Dear God, please help us put
our trust in you
rather than in anyone or anything else
My
recording of this reading
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
Listen
Acts
15.36-40:
Some time after this, Paul said to Barnabas
"Let's revisit the towns where we preached the word of the
Lord". Barnabas suggested taking John Mark with them,
but Paul opposed this, since John Mark had deserted them on the previous
trip when the situation became dangerous. After a violent argument, Paul and Barnabas
split up. Barnabas went with John Mark to Cyprus. Silas joined Paul for
his next journey
Jesus,
at your Last Supper you
prayed for the unity of your followers. Help us avoid
arguments
Listen
Luke
12.22-34:
Jesus said to his disciples "Do not
worry about food and clothing.
As regards food, think of the birds.
They don't sow or reap, and they have no homes to store things. Yet God
feeds them.
As regards clothing, think how the flowers grow with a beauty greater than
that of Solomon's clothes. God will look after you more than he looks
after the flowers. So, don't set your hearts on food and
clothing.
Don't go in for worry. Just set your hearts on God's kingdom, then food and clothing will not be a problem.
Where your treasure is, that is where your
heart will be too
Jesus, please help me to put your friendship
as number one in my life
Listen
Reflection: See page 4, here
------------------------------
-------------------------------
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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 12th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the people 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
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon Dec 11
Mass murder in Gaza
*** Gaza
safe areas "a cruel mirage"
Pope's
new climate change letter "Laudate
Deum:
61.
I cannot fail in this regard to remind the Catholic faithful of the motivations
born of their faith. I encourage my brothers and sisters of other religions to
do the same, since we know that authentic
faith not only gives strength to the human heart, but also transforms life,
transfigures our goals and sheds light on our relationship to others and with
creation as a whole.
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Maccabees
2: Mattathias was a Jew loyal to his religion at
a time when most people were not loyal. When the king's representative came to the
town of Mattathias
and started forcing people to take part in pagan ceremonies,
Mattathias killed the representative. Mattathias then called on everyone loyal to
God
to join him in the desert. Mattathias soon had a small army which
gradually won control
of many parts of the country and restored observance of God's law. When Mattathias was coming to the end of his
life
he appointed his son Judas as his army successor.
Dear God, help us to be loyal
to you like Mattathias
My
recording of this reading
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
Acts
15.1-29: Some Jewish Christians came to Syrian
Antioch from Judea and said that non-Jewish Christians should be
circumcised. Paul and Barnabas argued against such an idea, and decided to
go to Jerusalem to discuss this issue with the apostles there. During a long meeting, Peter reminded everyone
how the Holy Spirit had been poured out on non-circumcised people. James spoke
of how all peoples are meant to be consecrated to the Lord. James then issued a teaching for non-Jewish
believers:
"All we ask you to do is to abstain from food sacrificed to idols,
from blood from the meat of strangled animals, from fornication. Avoid these, and you will do what is right"
Jesus, please don't let me make unreasonable
demands on other people
Listen
Luke
12.15-21: Jesus told the people this story: There was a
rich man who, having had a good harvest from his land, thought to himself
"What am I to do? I don't have enough room to store my
crops". Then he said to himself "This is what I will do: I will pull down my
barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain in them, and I will
say to my soul: My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many
years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, and have a good time". But God said to him "Fool! This very
night your earthly life will come to an end. And all your possessions, who
will get them?"
So it is when people store up treasure for themselves, instead of making themselves rich in the sight of God
Jesus, please help me to be satisfied with
what I have, and not to be greedy
Listen
Reflection: Famous movie You can't take it with you
-------------------------
Senior's
moments: One day last week after preparing this blog I forgot to upload it
...and only did so when a kind HK reader told me it had not been uploaded. Then
for yesterday's blog I put the readings for Advent 3 instead of Advent 2 and
needed someone to point out the mistake.
--------------------
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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On
this 11th of
the month, Jesus please bless the people 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 Yemen
And praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
-----------------------
----------------------
Dec 10
2nd Sun of Advent
Beautiful Advent song: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and free captive (Gaza)
Weakness
....hopelessness
MSF
staement, which has these words: The
US veto makes it complicit in the carnage in Gaza.
Cop28
a farce - George Monbiot
Pope's
new climate change letter "Laudate
Deum:
60.
May those taking part in the Conference be strategists capable of considering
the common good and the future of their children, more than the short-term
interests of certain countries or businesses. In this way, may they demonstrate
the nobility of politics and not its shame. To the powerful, I can only repeat
this question: "What would induce
anyone, at this stage, to hold on to power, only to be remembered for their
inability to take action when it was urgent and necessary to do so?"
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Advent 2
Isaiah
40: "Console my people,
console them" says the Lord. A voice cries out "Prepare
in the wilderness a way for the Lord. Make a straight highway for our God
across every desert. Let every valley be filled in, every mountain and hill be
laid low. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all people will see
the Lord's glory." Go up on a high mountain, joyful messenger to Zion.
Shout with a loud voice, joyful messenger to Jerusalem. Shout to the towns of
Judah "Here is your God".
Lord, please help me prepare your way into my heart, into my family, into
my world
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
Peter 1.20 - 3.18: We must be
careful to understand Scripture according to God's mind. We are not free to make
up our own interpretations as we like. In the past there were false prophets. So
there will always be false prophets and teachers who twist the truth to suit
their own tastes and corrupt behavior. They will have much to answer for
when the Day of the Lord comes. Our brother Paul has written to you about this
issue. Sometimes his writing is not easy to understand, and is distorted by
false teachers. Avoid false teaching. Stand firm in the truth. Go on growing in
the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. To him be glory, in time and
in eternity. Amen
Jesus, protect me from people who distort the Bible message
Listen
Mark
1.1-8: This
is the story of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Long ago God
said through the prophet Isaiah "I am going to send my messenger before
you. He will prepare your way. A voice cries out in the wilderness: prepare
a way for the Lord". And so it was that John the Baptist appeared in
the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism for the forgiveness of sins. As the people
were baptized by John in the river Jordan, they confessed their sins. John wore
a garment of camel skin. Locusts and wild honey were his food. He said to the
people "Someone is coming who is more important than I am. I am not worthy
to kneel down and undo his sandal straps. I baptize you with water. He will
baptize you with the Holy Spirit".
Jesus, please help us prepare a way for you
like John the Baptist
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings: 
Prepare
ye the way of the Lord (from "Godspell")
Reflection by Fr Peter: English Chinese
-------------
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian, Chinese, English, and
Spanish
(+
Cantonese audio)
-------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.00
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
re-entered 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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 10th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Hubei
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 10th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Eritrea
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
-----------------------
----------------------
Sat Dec 9
A
group of international aid groups on Thursday condemned Israel’s calls for
displaced Palestinians to head to Al-Mawasi
- in this
report (and see my comment)
Pope's
new climate change letter "Laudate
Deum:59.
If there is sincere interest in making COP28 a historic event that honours and
ennobles us as human beings, then one can only hope for
binding forms of energy transition that meet three conditions: that they be
efficient, obligatory and readily monitored. This, in order to achieve
the beginning of a new process marked by three requirements: that it be drastic,
intense and count on the commitment of all. That is not what has happened so
far, and only a process of this sort can enable international politics to
recover its credibility, since only in this concrete manner will it be possible
to reduce significantly carbon dioxide levels and to prevent even greater evils
over time.
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Maccabees
1: Some Jews abandoned
their religion and made a pact with King Antiochus Epiphanes, a Seleucid
king of the Greeks. Antiochus conquered
many lands, including Israel.
He plundered the Temple and forced the Jews to renounce their religion. But many Jews
courageously stood firm and were punished with death. This was a sad and
terrible time for Israel.
Dear
God, please help us stay faithful to you
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
81: Ring out your joy to God our
strength,
shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.
Listen to the voice of the Lord: "I am the Lord your God
who brought you out from the land of Egypt. Let there be no foreign god among you,
no worship of a false god. O that my people would heed me,
that Israel would walk in my ways. At once I would subdue their foes.
But Israel I would feed with finest wheat and honey".
Lord, please help us to walk in
your ways
Listen
Acts
14.19-27: Some Jewish leaders arrived from Pisidian
Antioch and Iconium.
They turned the people of Lycaonia against Paul and Barnabas. The people stoned Paul and, thinking he was
dead, dragged him outside the town. The disciples gathered around Paul's body. As
they did so, he stood up. The next day he and Barnabas went to the town of
Derbe. After Derbe, they went back to Pisidian
Antioch via Lystra and Iconium. In each place they encouraged the
believers to persevere in the faith, especially during difficult times in
their lives. In each place they also appointed elders to be
church leaders.
Eventually Paul and Barnabas arrived back in Syrian Antioch, where they
gave an account of how God had opened the door of faith to non-Jewish
people
Jesus, please help me persevere in the faith,
like Paul and Barnabas
Listen
Luke
11.37-54: Jesus said to the religious leaders "You
worry so much about cleaning dirty dishes, but don't care about
having a dirty heart full of extortion and wickedness. At meetings and in the market, you like being
treated as people of importance. But in fact you are like unmarked tombs
that people walk on without knowing it. You expect ordinary people to observe
unreasonable laws, while you excuse yourselves from such laws. You don't care about obtaining real wisdom,
and you prevent others from obtaining wisdom". The leaders were stung by Jesus'
words, and they intensified their efforts to trap him in his speech
Jesus, help religious leaders be
sincere people
Listen
Reflection: At the moment I am re-reading Joshua And The Shepherd
---------
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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 9th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people 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 Mozambique
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
Fri Dec 8
Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary by her mother Anne
This feast reminds us that it is possible to defeat evil - e.g. the evil of drugs. Drug taking/trafficking can be stopped. Whenever evil wins a battle, it can still lose the war. From defeats by evil, greater goodness than previously thought possible, can become possible. Beautiful prayer for today by Pope Francis
CSD
prison chaplains conference at Catholic Diocese Centre
Cup
Media report
about MercyHK's canteen in Temple Street, Jordan
UN
Secretary-General invokes Article 99 on Gaza
Pope's
new climate change letter "Laudate
Deum:
58.
Once and for all, let us put an end to the irresponsible derision that would
present this issue as something purely ecological, "green", romantic,
frequently subject to ridicule by economic interests. Let us finally admit that
it is a human and social problem on any number of levels. For this reason, it
calls for involvement on the part of all. In Conferences on the climate, the
actions of groups negatively portrayed as "radicalized" tend to
attract attention. But in reality they are filling a space left empty by society
as a whole, which ought to exercise a healthy "pressure", since
every family ought to realize that the future of their children is at stake.
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Immaculate Conception
Genesis 3: A
creature hostile to God took the form of a snake and tempted the first man and
first woman. The snake tempted them to disobey God. When God asked them why they
disobeyed him, the man blamed the woman, and the woman blamed the snake. God
said to the snake: "You are the enemy of the human race. Someday
a member of the human race will defeat you." God said to the man and
woman: "From dust you came and to dust you will return." The
first man's name was Adam (meaning "man"). The first woman's name was
Eve (meaning "life").
Dear God, please help me understand how evil in the world started when
Adam and Eve disobeyed you
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
98: Sing
a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders. His right hand has
brought salvation. The
Lord has made known his salvation. He has shown his justice to the nations. He
has remembered his truth and love for the house of Israel. All the ends of
the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout to the Lord all the earth,
ring out your joy. Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp, with the sound of
music. Let the sea, the world and all peoples acclaim the King, the Lord. Let
the rivers clap their hands and the hills ring out their joy at the presence of
the Lord, for he comes to rule the earth. He will rule the world with
justice and the peoples with fairness.
Lord, may all peoples in all countries know your love and goodness
Recording
Ephesians
1: Blessed be God the Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of
heaven in Christ. Before
the world was made, he chose us, chose us in Christ, to be holy and
spotless, and to live through love in his presence, determining that we should
become his adopted children, the people who would put their hope in Christ
before he came.
God our Father, before Mary was born, you chose her to be Jesus' mother.
Before I was born, you chose me to be a brother/sister of Jesus
Recording
Luke
1: 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?" 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 readings:
Mary got involved, from start to finish - Mary a model re Pope Francis' words "get out", "get involved", "look outwards"
----------
A
man sent his friend a Christmas card. It said: A B C D E F G H I J K M N O P Q R
S T U V W X Y Z. The recipient puzzled over it for weeks, finally gave up
and wrote asking for an explanation. He received the explanation on a postcard:
"No L." (The
1st Noel)
-------------------------
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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 8th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Heilongjian
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 8th of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of Sierra Leone
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
----------------------------
Thu Dec 7
Yesterday at
the Catholic Diocesan Centre from 10am to 3.30pm I attended the annual CSD
chaplains' conference ... which had the theme of "helping drug addicts and
stopping drug addiction". With me was Eddie and Raymond from MercyHK
and Jane from Voice for Prisoners
MSF: We are watching as hospitals are being turned into morgues and ruins. They are being hit by missile strikes, tanks and gunfire; they are being encircled and raided, killing patients and medical staff.
Christmas baby Jesus ... in the rubble of Gaza
Pope's
new climate change letter "Laudate
Deum:
57.
I consider it essential to insist that "to seek only a technical remedy to
each environmental problem which comes up is to separate what is in reality
interconnected and to mask the true and deepest problems of the global
system". It is true that efforts at adaptation are needed in the
face of evils that are irreversible in the short term. Also some interventions
and technological advances that make it possible to absorb or capture gas
emissions have proved promising. Nonetheless, we risk remaining trapped in the
mindset of pasting and papering over cracks, while beneath the surface there is
a continuing deterioration to which we continue to contribute. To suppose that
all problems in the future will be able to be solved by new technical
interventions is a form of homicidal pragmatism, like
pushing a snowball down a hill. ((!))
-------------------------
The Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Esther 6-8:
On the night between the two banquets, the
king could not sleep.
To induce sleep he started reading the history of his kingdom. He read how some years ago two of his eunuchs
planned to assassinate him, but the plot was foiled by Mordecai. The king asked Haman how to honor a man whom
the king wished to honor. Haman thought the king was talking about
himself, Haman, so
he suggested royal clothes, a royal horse and a royal parade. The king agreed and told Haman to honor
Mordecai in this way.
This was a great humiliation for Haman.
And it got even worse for Haman. At the second banquet, Esther told the
king that she was Jewish and that Haman planned to
kill all Jews.
The result: Haman was hanged on the gallows which he had prepared for
Mordecai, and the Jews were not only spared annihilation - they were given
places of honor in the kingdom. The
Jews praised God for all his help through Mordecai.
Dear God, please stop people
like Haman from committing injustice
01
02
Psalms
79-80: O God, the nations have invaded your sacred
land,
they have profaned your holy temple.
They have made Jerusalem a heap of ruins. We have become the taunt of our
neighbours,
the mockery and scorn of those who surround us. How long, O Lord, will all this last?
How long will this sorrow keep going? Do not hold the guilt of our ancestors against
us.
If their guilt is somehow influencing our situation now
please give peace and healing to everyone and everything
in our history. Let the groans of the prisoners come before
you.
Let your strong arm reprieve those condemned to die. O Lord, our God, help us and save us.
Let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
Lord, please heal any problems
in my family tree
Listen
Acts
14.8-18: In Lycaonia, there was a man who had never
walked in his life, because his feet were crippled from birth. As he listened to Paul preaching, Paul noticed
him and saw that he had the faith to be cured. Paul said in a loud voice "Get to your
feet! Stand up!"
The crippled man jumped up and began to walk. The local people thought that Paul and
Barnabas must be gods, so Paul said to them "We are only human beings
like you. We have come with Good News to help you turn from empty idols to
the living God who made heaven and earth. It is he who sends you rain and
who makes your crops grow"
Jesus,
help people turn away from idol
worship
Listen
Luke
11.27-32: While Jesus was speaking, a woman in the
crowd called out
"Blessed the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you".
Jesus replied "Even more blessed are
those who hear the word of God and put it into practice!" Jesus also said "On Judgement day, the
Queen of the South will rise up with the people of this generation and
condemn them, because she came from a distant country to hear the wisdom
of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here"
Jesus, greater than Solomon, please help me
put your teaching into practice
Listen
Reflection: The wisest person in the history of the world? Not Confucius, not Solomon .... but Jesus!
---
Israel
squeezing 1.8 million people into area the size of an airport
--------------------
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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 7th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 7th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Burkina
Faso
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the
week:
Jesus, today, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
----------------------------
Wed Dec 6 Today
is the Feast of Saint Nicholas ...
from whose name we get the name Santa
Claus.
He was a bishop who cared about poor people.
The
St Nicholas tradition.
St
Nicholas: The Real Story
And see 
below!
Only
yesterday when I watched this
Media Watch program did I learn that an Australian man helped greatly in the
recent rescue of 41 Indian workers trapped in tunnel
Greta Thunberg: We
won't stop speaking out about Gaza
Pope's
new climate change letter "Laudate
Deum:
56. We must move beyond
the mentality of appearing to be concerned but not having the courage needed to
produce substantial changes. We know that at this pace in just a few years we
will surpass the maximum recommended limit of 1.5° C and shortly thereafter
even reach 3° C, with a high risk of arriving at a critical point. Even if we
do not reach this point of no return, it is certain that the consequences would
be disastrous and precipitous measures would have to be taken, at enormous cost
and with grave and intolerable economic and social effects. Although
the measures that we can take now are costly, the cost will be all the more
burdensome the longer we wait.
Crazy! Fossil
fuel lobbyists - 2,456 of them - at Cop 28 climate talks
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Esther 5: After Esther prayed to God for a long time,
she went to the palace and presented herself to the king. At first the king was angry that
Esther came without being invited,
but then his heart softened and he
welcomed her. When King Ahasuerus saw that
Esther was distressed,
he asked her what was wrong. He promised to do anything for her. Esther asked that there be two
special banquets for herself,
the king and Haman. The king agreed and the banquets were arranged. Haman meanwhile was making his
own arrangements:
a high gallows on which to hang Mordecai.
Dear God, please move the
hearts of rulers
to be kind to their people
My
recording of this reading
Psalm 78: Listen, everyone, to my teaching. I will recount the lessons of our history. The things our parents have told us, we will not hide from our children, but will pass them on to the next generation. We want the next generation to know all that the Lord has done for us in the past. May the next generation in turn pass on this knowledge to their own children, so that they too will put their hope in God and never forget all that God has done for us. May future generations not be like our ancestors who so often were unfaithful to God. Even though our ancestors had seen God part the sea, even though they had seen him provide food and water for them in the desert, still they went on sinning.
Yet he who is full of compassion forgave and
spared them.
He remembered they were only weak humans. Eventually he brought them to the promised
land
and gave a home to each of Israel's tribes. But still they sinned by building mountain
shrines
and serving idols. Then God raised up David to be their
leader. God called him from looking after sheep to be the shepherd of his people.
Lord, help us not to forget all
you have done for us
01
02
Acts
14.1-7: Paul and Barnabas went to another city,
Iconium. As usual, their first stop was the local Jewish prayer hall. Many
Jews became believers, as did many non-Jewish people. During their stay in
Iconium, Paul and
Barnabas preached fearlessly for the Lord. And the Lord supported them by
allowing miracles to be worked by them. But their success again aroused opposition,
and they were in danger of being stoned. So they went to Lycaonia and
preached the Good News there.
Jesus, please help Gospel workers by allowing
miracles to be worked by them
Listen
Luke
11.9-13:
Jesus said to his disciples "Ask, and it will
be given to you. Search, and you will find.
Knock, and the door will open.
If children ask their parents for something
good, their parents will always give it to them.
Even more so will the heavenly Father
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him
Heavenly Father, please give me your Holy
Spirit!
Listen
Reflection: The Holy Spirit = The Holy Ghost = The Holy Gift!
---------------------------
For
feast of St Nicholas!
-------------------------
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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 6th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the people 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 Mali
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
----------------------
----------------------
Africa:
2020: My trip to Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg
Jan 1, 2020: How cocaine trafficking is impacting West Africa
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
2017-09-27: 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)
2017-05-17: 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, 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
http://hkdrugblog.org/name-and-shame/index.htm
----------------------
Photos
from my time in China 2001-20008
/2017-12-27-Guadalupe-04.jpg){kind=link}
---------------------
---------------------
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
prisoners:
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
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