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 9
Last Wednesday our MercyHK case workers asked me to visit an
elderly very sick homeless man for whom they had arranged accommodation in a
nursing home near the Dr Jesus Centre in Jordan. A week or two previously they
had got me to visit the man in nearby Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Last Wed the man
was so ill that the case workers asked me to baptise him ... which I did ...and
which he was pleased to have done ....he said he just wanted to go to the next
life. He prayed very beautifully during and after the baptism. Last Sunday he
left this world very peacefully. A-Wai in Heaven,
please pray for us!
US-sponsored Israeli
genocide in Gaza: Wikipedia
- Gaza genocide
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
59. Since apostolic times, the Church has seen the liberation of the oppressed as a sign of the Kingdom of God. Jesus himself proclaimed at the beginning of his public ministry: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives” (Lk 4:18). The early Christians, even in precarious conditions, prayed for and assisted their brothers and sisters who were prisoners, as the Acts of the Apostles (cf. 12:5; 24:23) and various writings of the Fathers attest. This mission of liberation has continued throughout the centuries through concrete actions, especially when the tragedy of slavery and imprisonment has marked entire societies.
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Isaiah
36-40: "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
96: O sing a new song to the Lord.
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
O sing to the Lord, bless his name. Proclaim his help day by day.
Tell among the nations his glory,
and his wonders among all the peoples. It was the Lord who made the heavens.
Give the Lord, you families of peoples,
give the Lord glory and honor. Bring an offering and enter his temple.
Worship the Lord in his sacred place. Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad.
Let the sea and all within it thunder praise. Let the land and all it bears rejoice,
all the trees of the forest shout for joy.
Everyone and everything,
give the Lord glory and honor.
Lord, you are our Creator. We
love and praise you
Listen
James
4.13-15: Avoid talking like this: "Tomorrow I'm
going to another town, to do business there for a year". You don't know what will happen tomorrow. You
are no more than a mist that is here for a little while, then disappears. What you should say is: "If it's the
Lord's will, tomorrow I'm going to another town for a year"
Jesus, help me to remember to say to people: "God
willing, I will see you next month" or "Please God, I will see
you next month", rather than just "I'll see you next month"
Listen
Matthew
18.12-14:
What think you? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them should go
astray: doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains, and
go to seek that which is gone astray? And if it so be that he find it:
Amen I say to you, he rejoiceth more for that, than for the ninety-nine that
went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father, who is in
heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Reflection: At Christmas let us remember that God the Son became a baby to be the Saviour of all people, not just one group of people
------------------------------
Q:
How does a sheep say "Merry Christmas"?
A: "Fleece Navidad!
-------------------------------
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 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, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon 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
Letter of
O.M.I. General Servant Fr Luis for Dec 8
========
Two new
videos added here (Nov 30)
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: The
world is shrinking for Gazans
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
58.
The monastic tradition teaches us that prayer and charity, silence and service,
cells and hospitals form a single spiritual fabric. The monastery is a place of
listening and action, of worship and sharing. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, the
great Cistercian reformer, “firmly recalled the need for a sober and measured
life, in the refectory as in monastic clothing and buildings, recommending the
support and care of the poor.” [45] For him, compassion
was not an option, but the true path of following Christ. Monastic life,
therefore, if faithful to its original vocation, shows that the Church is fully
the bride of the Lord only when she is also the sister of the poor. The cloister
is not only a refuge from the world, but a school where one learns to serve it
better. Where monks and nuns have opened their doors to the poor, the Church has
revealed with humility and firmness that contemplation does not exclude mercy,
but demands it as its purest fruit.
((this is a strong hint: if you haven't
opened your door, start opening it!))
------------------------
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, 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 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, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
-----------------------
----------------------
Sun Dec 7
Yesterday
Cardinal Stephen Chow accompanied an archbishop from Germany, a bishop from
Taiwan and a bishop from the US .... for a visit to the Dr Jesus Centre in
Temple Street, then the Mercy centre in Shanghai Street, then our accommodation
centre for Indonesian women in Shanghai Street, then our accommodation centre
for Filipinas in Nanking Street, then my home in Temple Street ... finishing
with a meal at the MercyHK canteen in Temple Street. With the group were several
HK deacons and the cardinal's secretary ....joined by MercyHK's Eddie Chan and
Lucia Leung. The overseas bishops are on a study tour arranged by Caritas.
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: The
killing continues
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
57. In addition to providing material assistance, monasteries played a fundamental role in the cultural and spiritual formation of the humblest. In times of plague, war and famine, they were places where the needy found bread and medicine, but also dignity and a voice. It was there that orphans were educated, apprentices received training and ordinary people were taught agricultural techniques and how to read. Knowledge was shared as a gift and a responsibility. The abbot was both teacher and father, and the monastic school was a place of freedom through truth. Indeed, as John Cassian writes, the monk must be characterized by “humility of heart… which leads not to knowledge that puffs up, but to knowledge that enlightens through the fullness of charity.” [44] By forming consciences and transmitting wisdom, monks contributed to a Christian pedagogy of inclusion. Culture, marked by faith, was shared with simplicity. Knowledge, illuminated by charity, became service. Monastic life thus revealed itself as a style of holiness and a concrete way to transform society.
------------------------------
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
Matthew
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")
-------------
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
-------------------------------
Birthday
greeting to someone turning 90:
"Welcome to the Extra Time Club"!
------------------------------
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 7th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Hebei
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 7th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Burkina Faso
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
-----------------------
----------------------
Sat 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!
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
56. Over time, Benedictine monasteries became places for overcoming the culture of exclusion. Monks and nuns cultivated the land, produced food, prepared medicines and offered them, with simplicity, to those most in need. Their silent work was the leaven of a new civilization, where the poor were not a problem to be solved, but brothers and sisters to be welcomed. The rule of sharing, working together and helping the vulnerable established an economy of solidarity, in contrast to the logic of accumulation. The monks’ witness showed that voluntary poverty, far from being misery, is a path of freedom and communion. They did not limit themselves to helping the poor: they became their neighbors, brothers and sisters in the same Lord. In the cells and cloisters, they created a mysticism of God’s presence in the little ones.
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Isaiah
61: The spirit of the Lord has been given to me,
for the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news
to the poor,
to bind up broken hearts, to proclaim liberty to captives,
freedom to those in prison, to comfort people who mourn,
to replace their sadness with praise. I exult for joy in the Lord,
my soul rejoices in my God, for as the earth makes plants to
grow,
and as a garden makes seeds spring up, so the Lord will make integrity
and praise
spring up in the sight of the nations.
Lord, please give comfort and courage to people
who are sad
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
52-60: Lord, I will tell everyone about how good you
are.
You are our Creator. Everyone should love you. Thank you for so often rescuing me from
trouble.
You uphold my life. Sometimes I have so many troubles and cares
that I can't get to sleep.
Sometimes I wish I was a bird
and could fly away to a safe place. When I fear, I will trust in you,
in you whose word I praise. My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready.
I will sing, I will sing your praise. Each morning I will sing of your strength,
and each morning acclaim your love.
O God, please help me to praise
and love you every day
Listen
James
4.7-12: Turn towards God. Turn away from the Devil,
and the Devil will run away from you. Clean your hearts and minds. Be sorry for your
sins.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Do not slander one another. Who are you to
give a verdict on your neighbor?
Jesus, help me understand "the time
to judge others is never"
Listen
John
18.28-40: The religious leaders took Jesus to the Roman
governor, Pilate. Pilate asked Jesus "Are you the King of the
Jews?" Jesus replied "My kingdom is not a
kingdom of this world. But I am a king. I came into this world to bear
witness to the truth". After further questioning, Pilate said to the
leaders "I find no case against him, so how about I release him
according to the custom of releasing one prisoner at Passover? At this the leaders shouted "Not this
man, but Barabbas".
Barabbas was a bandit
Jesus, help me be a better witness to
good values
Listen
Reflection: He's omitted from this Wikipedia article, but Jesus is the best example in world history of "speaking truth to power"
-----------------------
For
feast of St Nicholas!
------------------------------
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 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, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
Fri Dec 5
Today I'm due to be at Lai Chi Kok men's prison for early morning
till 5pm ... really looking forward to the visit ... it's like a holiday for me!
US-sponsored
genocide in Gaza: Israel
continues to murder children
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
55. In the West, Saint Benedict of Norcia formulated a Rule that would become the backbone of European monastic spirituality. Welcoming the poor and pilgrims occupies a prominent place in the document: “The poor and pilgrims are to be received with all care and hospitality, for it is in them that Christ is received.” [43] These were not just words: for centuries Benedictine monasteries were places of refuge for widows, abandoned children, pilgrims and beggars. For Benedict, community life was a school of charity. Manual labor not only had a practical function, but also formed the heart for service. Sharing among the monks, caring for the sick and listening to the most vulnerable prepared them to welcome Christ who comes in the person of the poor and the stranger. Today, Benedictine monastic hospitality remains a sign of a Church that opens its doors, welcomes without asking and heals without demanding anything in return.
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Isaiah 60: Arise, shine out, for your light has
come.
The glory of the Lord is rising on you,
though the rest of the world is still in darkness. The nations come to your light
and kings to your dawning brightness. People from other lands are
coming to you,
bringing gold and incense
and singing the praise of the Lord. No more will the sun give you
daylight,
nor moonlight shine on you, for the Lord himself will be your
everlasting light.
Then your days of mourning will be ended.
Lord Jesus, you are the light
of the world.
Please give more light to my life
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
51: Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness,
and cleanse me of my sin. My offences truly I know them.
What is evil in your sight I have done. But in my defence please don't forget that
sinfulness is part of the human condition, part of our DNA. A pure heart create for me, O God.
Put a steadfast spirit within me. Give me again the joy of your help.
With a spirit of fervor sustain me.
Lord, you will not spurn
a humbled, contrite heart
Listen
James
3.16-17: Wherever you find jealousy and ambition, you
find disharmony and evil practice. On the other hand, wisdom from heaven is
good and peaceful and kindly and considerate. It is full of compassion,
and does good.
There is no trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it
Jesus, give me wisdom. Make me
peaceful
Listen
John
18.19-27: The main religious leader interrogated
Jesus about his teaching. Jesus told him "I have spoken openly in
prayer halls and in the Temple. I have said nothing in secret. The people
can tell you what I said". At these words, one of the guards slapped
Jesus in the face, saying "Don't speak to the leader like that".
Jesus replied "If I said something wrong, point it
out. But if there was nothing wrong with my words, why did you hit
me?" Meanwhile Peter was outside in the courtyard,
keeping warm by a fire. Three times he was asked by different people if he
was a disciple of Jesus. Three times he replied "I am not".
After his third denial, a rooster crowed
Jesus, on trial before the leaders, please
bless everyone on trial today, in every country
Listen
Reflection: Jesus didn't remain completely silent ... he spoke up for his rights
----------
Birthday
greeting to someone turning 80:
"Welcome to the Shut Down Club"!
-------------------------
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 5th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Guizhou
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 5th of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of South Sudan
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
----------------------------
Thu Dec 4
Two more beautiful sharings by MercyHK case worker Shirley Lee - here
and here
(click "translation" for English)
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
54. In Caesarea, where he was Bishop, (Basil) built a place known as Basiliad, which included lodgings, hospitals and schools for the poor and sick. The monk, therefore, was not only an ascetic, but also a servant. Basil thus demonstrated that to be close to God, one must be close to the poor. Concrete love was the criterion of holiness. Praying and caring, contemplating and healing, writing and welcoming: everything was an expression of the same love for Christ.
-------------------------
The Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Isaiah 57 & 58 :
Tell my people their faults,
tell the House of Jacob its sins. Tell them that their fasting is a
sham.
Fasting and injustice cannot go together. This is the sort of fast that
pleases the Lord:
breaking unjust fetters,
sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering and clothing the homeless poor.
Do this and you will find healing
and peace.
Do this and the Lord will give strength to your bones.
Lord, please help me do more to
help poor people
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
49-50: I will turn my mind to a parable,
with the harp I will solve a problem. The problem is: why do bad people prosper and
succeed? The answer: at the end of their lives bad
people will have to face death and judgement, just like everyone else. When we are rich, we often lack wisdom.
Wealth blinds our minds and hearts. Let's not
forget God and his laws.
Let's try to be good and lead good lives Lord, please help me understand
the meaning of life
Listen
James
3.3-10: When a bit is put into a horse's mouth, the
whole animal is under control. A tiny rudder can control a big ship. In the same way, if you can control your
tongue,
you can control every other part of yourself. The tongue is a whole wicked world in itself.
It is so hard to control.
We use it to bless God, but we also use it to curse people made in God's
image
Jesus, please help me control my tongue!
Listen
Luke 22.54-62: The men who arrested Jesus took him to the
home of the main religious leader. Peter followed at a distance. As Peter sat by a fire in the courtyard, a
servant-girl said "This man was with Jesus". Peter replied
"Woman I do not know him". A little while later, another person said
"You are one of them". Peter replied "I am not". About an hour later, a man said "He was
certainly with them. He is from Galilee". Peter replied "I do
not know what you are talking about". While he was still speaking, a rooster crowed,
and the Lord looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered what the Lord
had said, "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three
times". Peter went outside and cried bitterly
Jesus, don't let me ever deny that I
know you
Listen
Reflection: Peter (Gospel) would agree with James (2nd reading) ... it was his tongue that let him down
-----------------
Birthday
greeting to someone turning 70:
"Welcome to the Afternoon Nap Club"!
--------------------
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 4th 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 4th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Burundi
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the
week:
Jesus, today, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
----------------------------
Wed Dec 3
Yesterday morning at the High Court 2 young HK people, a
woman aged 20 and a man aged 21, were each sentenced to 10 years in prison for
bringing drugs from Bangkok to HK 2 years ago. Both joined my anti-drug campaign
and both received a 3 month reduction for their campaign participation.
473
years ago today, in 1552, on a remote island off the coast of China, Saint
Francis Xavier died. He could see China some 14km across
the sea, but could not enter it. In the months before he died, he offered up his
suffering that someone else might follow him and enter China. On October 6,
1552, Matteo
Ricci was born in Italy. Xavier's prayer was answered two
months before he died. With hindsight, we can see that for the spread of the
Gospel in China, Ricci's cultural approach was a more suitable missionary method
than Xavier's direct evangelisation. Maybe this is why God allowed Xavier to
leave the scene without entering China.
Xavier died on the island today known as Shangchuan. I've been privileged to visit there a number of times: e.g. 1993 & 2005. But only after checking above Wiki article did I know that the name "Shangchuan" means "Saint John"!
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ***
Settlers
attack Italian and Canadian volunteers
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te *** Many
reports about Pope's visit to Lebanon
53. Monastic life, which originated in the silence of the desert, was from the outset a witness to solidarity. Monks and nuns left everything — wealth, prestige, family — not only because they despised worldly goods — contemptus mundi — but also to encounter the poor Christ in this radical detachment. Saint Basil the Great, in his Rule, saw no contradiction between the monks’ life of prayer and contemplation and their work on behalf of the poor. For him, hospitality and care for the needy were an integral part of monastic spirituality, and monks, even after having left everything to embrace poverty, had to help the poorest with their work, because “in order to have enough to help the needy… it is clear that we must work diligently... This way of life is profitable not only for subduing the body, but also for charity towards our neighbor, so that through us God may provide enough for our weaker brothers and sisters.” [42]
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The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Isaiah 56: Foreigners who love and serve the Lord
- these I will bring to my holy mountain, says the Lord. I will make them joyful in my
house of prayer,
for my house will be called a house of prayer for all the
nations.
Lord, please help all peoples
of the world
know that you are their loving Creator
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
47-48: All peoples, clap your hands, cry to God with
shouts of joy.
For the Lord, our Creator, we must love and honor,
great king over all the earth. Especially in his holy city is the Lord worthy
to be praised.
Praise is fitting in Mount Sion, our earth's most sacred site.
O God, as we pray in your temple,
our hearts meditate on your love. May peoples and rulers everywhere
acknowledge and love you as Creator of the Universe
Let all the peoples praise you, Lord. Let all the peoples praise you
Listen
James
2.14-26: Faith and good works need to go together.
Suppose someone is lacking clothes and food,
and you say "I wish you well" and do nothing to help them. What good is that?
Faith
without good deeds is useless
Jesus, please help me put my faith into action
by good deeds
Listen
Luke
22.47-53: While Jesus was speaking, a group of
men arrived, led by Judas.
One of Jesus' apostles used his sword to cut
off the right ear of one of the men sent to arrest Jesus. Jesus told his apostles not to use their
swords. Then touching the man's ear, he healed him.
Jesus said to the men arresting him "This
is your hour. This is the reign of darkness"
Jesus, you gave up your freedom for our salvation
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: "Faith without good words is dead" ... which is the main point of Pope's letter, above ....real religion means helping needy people
-------------------
In English "slang", a "joint" is a
place/location ..e.g. "we are having a party at Peter's joint" =
"we are having a party at Peter's home".
Birthday greeting to someone turning 60: "Welcome to the Knee Joint Club"!
-------------------------
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 3rd
of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Gansu
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 3rd
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Chad
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
/1993-06-07shangchuan01.jpg){kind=link}
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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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