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 Nov 11
Remembrance
Day
107 years ago today, at 11am
on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, World War 1 officially ended,
after a conflict that involved 65 million men in battle, left nearly 10 million
killed, 21 million wounded, with nearly seven million civilian deaths. May the
Good Lord help our world avoid war!
Not forgetting that the Treaty of Versailles which ended World War 1 was a major cause of World War 2 (because it treated Germany so harshly) and was the reason for China's young leaders turning away from the West and turning to Marxism/Russia (because China also was treated so badly by the Treaty - see May 4 Movement)
----------
I clearly remember 50 years ago today in Australia. I took a
group of 100 Year 9 students from Mazenod College in Melbourne to the War
Memorial for a Nov 11 mrning visit. Then we went into the central business area
to do street interviews ...for Social Studies ...asking questions like "do
you approve of the present federal government?" .... only to find during
the afternoon that the Prime Minister and his government had
been controversially sacked!
Countries
should follow China's clean energy lead
US-sponsored Israeli
genocide in Gaza: Israeli
soldiers speak out
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
33. When Paul went to Jerusalem to consult the Apostles lest somehow he “should be running or had run in vain” (Gal 2:2), he was asked not to forget the poor (cf. Gal 2:10). Therefore, he organized various collections in order to help the poor communities. Among the reasons for which Paul makes this gesture, the following stands out: “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7). The word of God reminds those of us not normally prone to benevolent and disinterested gestures, that generosity to the poor actually benefits those who exercise it: God has a special love for them. In fact, the Bible is full of promises addressed to those who give generously to others: “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and will be repaid in full” (Prov 19:17). “Give, and it will be given to you... for the measure you give will be the measure you get back” (Lk 6:38). “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly” (Is 58:8). Of this, the early Christians had no doubt.
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Isaiah
6: In the year 740 B.C.,
I had a vision of the Lord God in Heaven: Above the Lord were 6 angels who cried out
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God.
His glory fills the whole earth." Then I heard a voice asking
"Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?" I answered "Here I am, send me."
Then the Lord sent me to be a prophet to the
people.
Here I am, Lord, send me.
I'm willing to do anything you want me to do
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
17-18: Lord, when trouble breaks out on every
side,
please protect and help me. For you are my strength, my rock, my fortress,
my savior.
I love you, Lord who save me because you love me. Lord, you are my lamp who lightens my
life.
I will praise you among the nations.
Lord, you are worthy of
all praise
Listen
Titus
3.8-15: Tell people to keep their minds occupied in
doing good works.
Avoid useless speculations about trivial matters. All believers, including elders, should try to
be self-supporting. Grace be with you all
Jesus, help me be a doer and not just a
talker
Listen
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: Isaiah and Luke both have the "Hosanna" theme!
------------------------------
The present no-money government crisis in the US is similar
to that in Australia in November 1975!
-------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day, especially for the leaders of that area:
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 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, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon Nov 10
Yesterday afternoon at St Teresa's Church in Kowloon, I attended
the wedding of a young lady I knew when she was at kindergarten in Tung Chung!
As the prayer says "may you see your children's children"!
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
32. Indeed, we find a clear ecclesial example of sharing goods and caring for the poor in the daily life of the first Christian community. We can recall in particular the way in which the question of the daily distribution of subsidies to widows was resolved (cf. Acts 6:1-6). This was not an easy problem, partly because some of these widows, who came from other countries, were sometimes neglected because they were foreigners. In fact, the episode recounted in the Acts of the Apostles highlights a certain discontent on the part of the Hellenists, the Jews who were culturally Greek. The Apostles do not respond with abstract words, but by placing charity towards all at the center, reorganizing assistance to widows by asking the community to seek wise and respected people to whom they could entrust food distribution, while they take care of preaching the Word.
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Isaiah
5: My friend had a vineyard on a fertile
hillside.
He planted choice vines in it and expected it to produce good grapes.
But it produced only sour grapes.
That vineyard is Israel. Its owner is the Lord.
That chosen plant is the people of Judah. The Lord expected the people of Israel to
produce justice.
But those people have produced only bloodshed and injustice. Those people have no time to think about the
Lord.
They have no interest in what he has done for them. So they are consigning themselves to ruin.
The vineyard will be trampled on and become a waste. Invaders will attack Israel.
The people of Israel will be taken into exile.
All because they rejected the Lord.
"I am the true vine. My
Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that bears no
fruit he cuts away. Every branch that does bear fruit he
prunes to make it bear even more" - Jesus (John 15.1-2)
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
16: Please protect me, Lord, I take refuge in
you.
You are the only source of all true happiness. I bless you, Lord, who guide and lead me.
Even at night you direct my heart. And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad.
My body shall rest in safety now and always. You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand, happiness for ever.
Thank you, Lord, for the little
joys you give us each day
....and the big joy you've prepared for us in Heaven
Listen
Titus
3.1-7: Remind everyone to be obedient to government
officials; to be ready to do good at every opportunity; not to go
slandering other people or picking quarrels; to be courteous and polite to
everyone. There was a time when we too were ignorant;
when we lived in wickedness and ill-will, hating each other and hateful
ourselves. But then the kindness and love of God our
Saviour were revealed, and God saved us because of his compassion. God saved us by the cleansing water of
rebirth, and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit whom he has poured over
us through Jesus Christ our Saviour. So we are justified by his grace, and look
forward to eternal life
Jesus,
Saviour of the world, you
are our Saviour
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, please help people in charge of money
not to steal
Listen
Reflection: Judas did not have an accountant or auditor to foster transparency and honesty
-------------------------
My only time this year to go to a wedding was yesterday. My only
time this year to go to a priestly ordination was two days ago. Both on the same
weekend!
--------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day, especially for the leaders of that area:
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 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, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
-----------------------
----------------------
Sun Nov 9
Yesterday morning at St Alfred's Church in Tai Wai, Cardinal
Stephen Chow ordained Fr Stebin Thomas O.M.I. For the time being Fr Stebin will
continue to serve in St Aftred's Parish where he has been working as a deacon
for the past year.
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
31. The message of God’s word is “so clear and direct, so simple and eloquent, that no ecclesial interpretation has the right to relativize it. The Church’s reflection on these texts ought not to obscure or weaken their force, but urge us to accept their exhortations with courage and zeal. Why complicate something so simple? Conceptual tools exist to heighten contact with the realities they seek to explain, not to distance us from them.” [18]
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: Turkey
issues genocide arrest warrant for Netanyahu (who, in accompanying photo,
looks like he has a serous disease? Likewise ...Donald Trump these days doesn't
look so healthy?!) *** Israel's
underground jail, where prisoners have not seen natural light since January
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Ezekiel 35-48: Through Ezekiel, God kept calling on the
people
to turn from their sins and remember their Creator. God said he would bring back Israel's exiles
to their homeland.
He would give them a new start in life,
like a skeleton coming back to life.
God said the people would re-build the Temple
in Jerusalem,
and religious practice would once again flourish. The people would once again remember God.
The people would once again be blessed by the Lord.
Lord, please help nations which
have forgotten you
to come back to you
Listen
Psalm 46:
(c.f.
famous hymn by Martin Luther "A Mighty Fortress is our
God", and also the hymn "Be Still and Know that I am
God")
God is for us a refuge and strength,
in time of distress he is a helper close at hand.
Therefore we shall not fear even though the
earth should rock,
even though the mountains fall into the sea. The Lord of hosts is with us.
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Come and consider the works of the Lord
and always remember his words: "Be still and know that I am God".
Lord, help us to be more aware
of your presence,
especially when we are in trouble
Listen
1 Corinthians 3.5-15: Apollos and I are servants who brought the
faith to you. I did the planting, Apollos did the watering, but God made
things grow. You are God's
building. By God's grace,
I laid the foundation, the only foundation there can be: Jesus
Christ. On that foundation you can build a house with
good or poor materials.
At the end of your life, your building will be judged by God.
Jesus, you are the foundation of my life. Help
me build a house with good material (= good deeds)
Listen
Matthew 21.12-16: When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, he went to
the Temple.
In the Temple there were money changers, and people selling pigeons. Jesus tipped over their tables
and drove them out of the Temple.
He said to them "My house is a house of prayer,
but you have turned it into a place for robbery". Blind and lame people came to
Jesus in the Temple.
He healed them all. Then he went out of the city to
the village of Bethany
and spent the night there.
Jesus, please protect all
places of prayer from corruption
Listen
Reflection: Best definition of a church: A House of Prayer
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
-------------------------------
Pope's
words in 31, above, can be applied to many
situations in life: "Why complicate something so simple?"!
------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day, especially for the leaders of that area:
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 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, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
-----------------------
----------------------
Sat Nov 8
Yesterday morning I went to the High Court to submit a bail
application ...due to be heard next week. Before going I put the application on
the altar of chapel of Dr Jesus Centre to ask a special blessing!
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: Israel
splitting Gaza in 2
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
30. James goes on to say: “Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter” (5:3-5). These are powerful words, even if we would rather not hear them! A similar appeal can be found in the First Letter of John: “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?” (3:17).
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Isaiah
3-4: Jerusalem is falling into ruins
because its people do not keep the Lord's way. Jerusalem's leaders mislead the people
and lead the way in doing wrong. But soon the Lord will take action.
He will raise up a people who are good. The Lord will protect these special people.
He will be their refuge and help.
Lord, please help our nation to
avoid evil and do good
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
14-15: So many people live and act as if God doesn't exist.
Some foolish people even say there is no God. So many people have left the way of justice and truth.
So many people follow the way of falsehood. Lord, help us to live as we
should.
Help us not to slander, help us not to wrong others.
Lord,
help us to stand firm in the
way of goodness
Listen
Titus
2.11-14: God's grace has made salvation available for
the whole human race.
We must give up everything that does not lead to God. We must delete our worldly ambitions. We must
be self-restrained and live good lives here in this present world, while
we wait in hope for the blessings that will come with the Coming of the
glory of our God and savior Christ Jesus. He sacrificed himself for us in order to set
us free from wickedness, and to purify us so that we would have no
ambition except to do good
Jesus, please help me give up everything that
does not lead to you
Listen
Luke
19.1-9: In Jericho there was a wealthy man named
Zacchaeus, a senior tax collector. He wanted to see what kind of person
Jesus was. But because of his
short stature he couldn't see over the crowd.
So he climbed a tree. Jesus saw him up the
tree and said "Zacchaeus, come down, because I will stay at your
house today". Zacchaeus hurried down
and welcomed Jesus warmly. People complained "He's gone to stay at
the house of an outcast". Zacchaeus replied
"Sir, I am going to give half of my property to the poor. And if I
have cheated anyone, I'll pay them back fourfold". Jesus said to him
"Today salvation has come to this house"
Jesus, please help more
people to want to know and love you
Listen
Reflection: Tax collectors, who worked for the invading Romans, were regarded as traitors and "sinners". But Jesus had special concern for them ..e.g. Zacchaeus, above, and also Matthew.
-----------------------
I wonder if Matthew and Zacchaeus ever discussed
finance?!
------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day, especially for the leaders of that area:
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 8th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people 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, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
Fri Nov 7
Yesterday afternoon on the train back to Jordan from Seung Shui (after the O.M.I.
annual in-service program) two kind people on the train started talking to me
... and told me they were on their way home from a sharing where the leader used
this video about
MercyHK!
Bangkok
file has, sadly, been updated (Nov 5)
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
29. In the early Christian community, acts of charity were performed on the basis not of preliminary studies or advance planning, but directly following Jesus’ example as presented in the Gospel. The Letter of James deals at length with the problem of relations between rich and poor, and asks the faithful two questions in order to examine the authenticity of their faith: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,’ and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead” (2:14-17).
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Isaiah 2: In the days to come, the mountain of the
Lord's Temple
will be specially blessed. All the nations will come to it and say:
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
that he may teach us his ways
so that we may walk in his paths". When they learn the ways of the Lord,
then the nations will hammer their swords into ploughshares,
their spears into sickles. Nation will not lift sword against nation,
there will be no more training for war. O House of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord!
Lord, please help world leaders
do more for peace in our world
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
9-13: I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart.
You have so often rescued me from trouble. Thank you! You are the best helper for people in trouble.
Please keep on helping me when troubles come. Please stop bad people from hurting others.
Please let peoples in all countries know they must avoid evil and live a
life of justice.
Dear Lord, thank you for
so often rescuing me
Listen
Titus
2.1-10: It's your job to preach the behavior that
goes with sound doctrine: the older men should be reserved, dignified,
moderate, sound in faith and love. The older women should be teachers of good
behavior, avoiding scandal mongering and too much wine. They should be an
example to the younger women in their love for their husbands and children.
Younger men should be moderate, with yourself
setting an example of sincerity for them. Slaves should be obedient to their masters,
and avoid petty thieving
Jesus, help me be a good person, a good
Christian
Listen
Luke
18.35-43: As Jesus entered Jericho, there was a blind
beggar sitting by the road. People in the crowd told him that Jesus of
Nazareth was passing by. So he called out "Jesus, Son of David,
have pity on me". Some people told him to be quiet, but he just
shouted all the louder "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me". Jesus stopped and asked him "What do you
want me to do for you?"
He replied "Sir, let me see again". Jesus said to him "Receive your sight.
Your faith has saved you".
Instantly his sight returned, and he followed Jesus, praising God.
Jesus, please heal my blind friend
......(name)...
Listen
Reflection: Titus 2 Ministry
----------
This morning I'm due to go to the High Court to submit
another bail application, asking the Good Lord to bless this application just as
others have been blessed!
-------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day, especially for the leaders of that area:
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 7th
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 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, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
----------------------------
Thu Nov 6
Hello again from St Paul's retreat centre in Sheung Shui where I am attending the annual O.M.I. in-service week. Due to be back at Temple Street late this afternoon.
Another
beautiful sharing by MercyHK volunteer Shirley Lee ....how former street
sleepers have been trained to be volunteers in a nursing home - here: 
(click "translation" to see English)
Sudan
civil war spiralling out of control - UN
Mary
is not "Co-Redeemer" - Vatican (Our Dear Heavenly Mother would be
the first to be embarrassed by this most unfortunate title)
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
28. The Lord’s appeal to show mercy to the poor culminates in the great parable of the last judgment (cf. Mt 25:31-46), which can serve as a vivid illustration of the Beatitude of the merciful. In that parable, the Lord offers us the key to our fulfillment in life; indeed, “if we seek the holiness pleasing to God’s eyes, this text offers us one clear criterion on which we will be judged.” [16] The clear and forceful words of the Gospel must be put into practice “without any ‘ifs or buts’ that could lessen their force. Our Lord made it very clear that holiness cannot be understood or lived apart from these demands.” [17]
-------------------------
The Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Isaiah 1:
Listen, heaven and
earth, for the Lord is speaking: "The
ox knows its owner and the donkey its master's crib. But my people have rebelled
against me. I am tired of your hypocritical lives, tired of offerings given with
dirty hands. You are so greedy for profit, always looking for bribes. Take your
wrong-doing out of my sight. Stop doing
evil. Learn to do good. Practise justice towards the poor.
Help the oppressed, the orphan and the widow. Then, though your sins are like
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."
Lord, please help me "wash my
hands" by doing good for poor people
My
recording of this reading
Psalm 8: How
great is your name, O Lord our God, through all the earth. When
I see the heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and stars which you have
arranged, then I stop and think: what are we insignificant humans that
you should care about us? Yet you have put us in charge of the world. Everything
is subject to our control.
How great is your name, O Lord our God, through all the earth
Listen
Titus 1.1-9: From Paul, an
apostle of Jesus Christ, to Titus, true child of mine in the faith we share,
wishing you grace and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our
Saviour. The reason I left you behind in
Crete was for you to appoint elders in every town: each of them a man of
irreproachable character, married only once, not arrogant or hot-tempered, not a
heavy drinker, not out to make money. A man who is hospitable and a friend of
all that is good; sensible, devout, with a firm grasp of the Good News, a good
teacher, able to refute people who argue against sound doctrine
Jesus, please help all pastors be good "elders"
Listen
Matthew 20.20-28: The
brothers James and John were two of Jesus' disciples. One day their mother said
to Jesus "When you become king, allow my sons to sit at your right and
left". Jesus said to James and John "Only my Father in heaven can
allocate seats on my right and left". The
10 other disciples were angry at James and John for seeking honor. So Jesus
said to them all "In most places, people in power like to dominate and
control others. But this is not to be your way of exercising authority. You
must exercise authority by serving others, not dominating them, just as I came
not to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for the
world".
Jesus, please help me want to help and serve other people, not dominate and
control them
Listen
Reflection: The mother of James and John was Jesus' aunt (the sister of his mother Mary)! The aunt was asking a favor of her nephew!
-----------------
Psalm 8, above, very appropriate for HK ....beautiful full moon
these nights!
--------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day, especially for the leaders of that area:
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 6th 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 16th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Mali
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the
week:
Jesus, today, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
----------------------------
Wed Nov 5
Hello again from St Paul's retreat centre in Sheung Shui where I am attending the annual O.M.I. in-service week. Due to be here until tomorrow afternoon. I hope you were able to check these 5 short videos I posted last Sunday
Only last night did I hear about this 2025 movie The King of Kings
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
27. For this reason, works of mercy are recommended as a sign of the authenticity of worship, which, while giving praise to God, has the task of opening us to the transformation that the Spirit can bring about in us, so that we may all become an image of Christ and his mercy towards the weakest. In this sense, our relationship with the Lord, expressed in worship, also aims to free us from the risk of living our relationships according to a logic of calculation and self-interest. We are instead open to the gratuitousness that surrounds those who love one another and, therefore, share everything in common. In this regard, Jesus advises: “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you” (Lk 14:12-14).
-----------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Sirach 51: When
I was young, before I became a traveler,
I prayed for wisdom. Thanks
to wisdom, I have been successful in my work.
And so I finish this book by praising the God who gave me wisdom: I
give thanks to you, Lord and King,
and praise you, God my savior. For
by wisdom you have protected and supported me,
and rescued me from so many troubles. I
will praise you all my days
and gratefully sing your praises.
Lord,
thank you for the wisdom in this book.
Please give me wisdom for each day
My
recording of this reading
Psalm 7: Lord
God, I take refuge in you. Please rescue me from people who are trying to hurt
me. Lord, please stop bad people from
doing bad things. Please help good people to keep on doing good things. Lord,
I will sing to you and thank you for your goodness to me.
Lord, please help me to avoid evil and to do good
Listen
2
Timothy 4.6-8: As for me,
my life of service to the Lord is nearly over. I have fought the good fight to
the end. I have run the race to the
finish. I have kept the faith. The Lord will soon give me the best of all
prizes: eternal life in heaven. He will give it not only to me, but to everyone
who has loved him sincerely in this life
Jesus, help me keep running to the finish line
Listen
Matthew
20.1-16: Jesus said to his
disciples : The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at
dawn to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them the normal
daily wage. Then about 9am he
went again to the market place. He saw more men without a job. He got them
also to go to his vineyard. He promised to pay them a fair wage. About
noon and again about 3pm
he once more went to the market place and employed two more groups of men. About
5pm he went one final time and employed one last group of men. At sunset
when the men came to be paid, the owner paid everyone a normal day's wage. This
made the dawn group unhappy. They grumbled and said "We have done a full
day's work in the heat. Yet we got the same as those who did only one hour's
work. This is not fair!" The owner replied "I am paying you what we
agreed to. Why do you begrudge my generosity?"
Jesus, please help me not to be jealous of your gifts to others
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: From our youngest days ("dawn"), through childhood (6am), adolescence (12 noon), adulthood (3pm) and old age (5pm) ... God goes to our hearts (market place) to invite us to know and love him
-------------------
How to get the Pope to notice you and speak with you when
you are at a function he attends:
sit in a wheelchair, dressed like Mother Teresa ...holding a baby!
-------------------------
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 people
in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 5th
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 5th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of South
Sudan
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
---------
-
-----------------------
(Several trips since 2020 but not convenient to post reports)
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
---------------------
---------------------
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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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