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 16
9
days to Christmas
Drone
Christmas lights!
This long documentary is based on real history ...and maybe was made by AI
(which explains the endless repetition of ideas and the never-changing voice)
... but it does tell a shocking (yes, shocking) part of HK's history: How
drug dealers built HK and controlled China's economy ***
Wikipedia ***
Jardine Matheson company website
US-sponsored Israeli
genocide in Gaza: At the
8:50 mark of this video
which I made near the US Consulate in HK on Nov 2, 2023 I said that Israel's
murdering of people in Gaza would make the world less safe for Jewish and American
people .... because injustice breeds violence. Which is what, most tragically
and so sadly, happened
in Sydney two days ago at Bondi Beach ***
I think history will show that the background cause for the attack was
Netanyahu's genocide in Gaza .... yet Netanyahu is blaming the Australian
government because it tried to acknowledge the real situation in Gaza! (c.f. the
background cause for 9/11 in New York was the Israeli-US 1982 devastation in
Lebanon)
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
67. The mendicant orders were therefore a living response to exclusion and indifference. They did not expressly propose social reforms, but an individual and communal conversion to the logic of the Kingdom. For them, poverty was not a consequence of a scarcity of goods, but a free choice: to make themselves small in order to welcome the small. As Thomas of Celano said of Francis: “He showed that he loved the poor intensely… He often stripped himself naked to clothe the poor, whom he sought to resemble.” [55] Beggars became the symbol of a pilgrim, humble and fraternal Church, living among the poor not to proselytize but as an expression of their true identity. They teach us that the Church is a light when she strips herself of everything, and that holiness passes through a humble heart devoted to the least among us.
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Zephaniah
and other prophets: Pride of heart leads us astray.
See how they are listless, those whose souls are not at peace. Lord, I have heard of all your wonderful deeds in the past.
Do them again in our day, Lord! Even when everything seems hopeless,
I trust in you Lord, I praise you Lord. Seek the Lord, all you humble people.
Seek integrity, seek humility. In the days to come, people will say
"We want to go with you, since we have learnt that God is with
you". Rejoice heart and soul, people of Jerusalem.
See, your king comes to you.
He is humble and riding on a donkey.
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
34: I will bless the Lord at all
times,
his praise always on my lips.
In the Lord my soul shall make its boast,
the humble shall hear and be glad. Glorify the Lord with me, together let us
praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me.
From all my terrors he set me free. The angel of the Lord is encamped around those
who revere the Lord, to rescue them. Taste and see that the Lord is good.
They are happy who seek refuge in him. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted.
Those whose spirits are crushed he will save.
Lord, by our Bible reading and
prayer, may we taste and see your goodness each day
Listen
Matthew
21.28-32:
Jesus
said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
“What
is your opinion?
A
man had two sons.
He
came to the first and said,
‘Son,
go out and work in the vineyard today.’
The
son said in reply, ‘I will not,’
but
afterwards he changed his mind and went.
The
man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He
said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go.
Which
of the two did his father’s will?”
They
answered, “The first.”
Jesus
said to them, “Amen, I say to you,
tax
collectors and prostitutes
are
entering the Kingdom of God before you.
When
John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you
did not believe him;
but
tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Yet
even when you saw that,
you
did not later change your minds and believe him.”
------------------------------
-------------------------------
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 16th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Qinghai
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 Malawi
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon Dec 15
10
days to Christmas! May this year's Christmas give our troubled world an urgently
needed boost of hope and peace and courage!
To help me warn
people about the danger of money laundering, a kind friend has posted another
short video - here.
This is Number 7. The first 6
are here
(Nov 30)
I read every word of this ....with pride in the way Australia is
leading the world ... as it did against the tobacco companies: Social
media ban has given us a way to fight big tech ((with great sadness
after Bondi shooting ....Australia having been a world leader in action against
gun control))
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
66. Saint Dominic de Guzmán, a contemporary of Francis, founded the Order of Preachers, with a different charism but the same radicalism of life. He wanted to proclaim the Gospel with the authority that comes from a life of poverty, convinced that the Truth needs witnesses of integrity. The example of poverty in their lives accompanied the Word they preached. Free from the weight of earthly goods, the Dominican Friars were better able to dedicate themselves to their principal work of preaching. They went to the cities, especially the universities, in order to teach the truth about God. [54] In their dependence on others, they showed that faith is not imposed but offered. And by living among the poor, they learned the truth of the Gospel “from below,” as disciples of the humiliated Christ.
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Numbers
23-24: When Balaam came to the
king of Moab,
the king again tried to get Balaam to curse the Israelites.
But Balaam followed God's words and said:
"How can I curse people that God does not curse?
These people are specially blessed by God.
How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob.
How lovely are your dwellings, O Israel.
From you will come a mighty one
who will reign over countless peoples.
A star from Jacob will be leader".
Dear
God, please bless the Jewish people with peace and love
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
24-26: The Lord's is the earth and all its peoples.
It is the Lord who is Creator of the universe. May all hearts open their doors to the Lord.
Let him enter, the king of glory. Lord I hope in you all the day long.
Forgive my sins and help me walk in your truth.
God my savior, teach me your
way of truth
Listen
Matthew 21.23-27:
When
Jesus had come into the temple area,
the
chief priests and the elders of the people approached him
as
he was teaching and said,
"By
what authority are you doing these things?
And
who gave you this authority?"
Jesus
said to them in reply,
"I
shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me,
then
I shall tell you by what authority I do these things.
Where
was John's baptism from?
Was
it of heavenly or of human origin?"
They
discussed this among themselves and said,
"If
we say 'Of heavenly origin,' he will say to us,
'Then
why did you not believe him?'
But
if we say, 'Of human origin,' we fear the crowd,
for
they all regard John as a prophet."
So
they said to Jesus in reply, "We do not know."
He
himself said to them,
"Neither
shall I tell you by what authority I do these things."
Reflection: Jesus is a star, a Star from Jacob!
-------------------------
Hymns
for Advent - beautiful!
--------------------
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 15th of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Liaoning
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 15th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Liberia
And praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
-----------------------
----------------------
Dec 14
3rd Sun of Advent
May the approach of Christmas give us hope and courage and strength and joy!
Christmas
song - O Holy Night,
by the
Indian group Sanam (3.2
million views!)
Two
thousand years ago, a young husband and his soon-to-deliver wife were on a long
journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem...not by train/plane/bus or car...but by
donkey...Mary riding, Joseph walking. A journey of around 150 km ....longer than
from HK to Guangzhou (119km) or from Brisbane to Toowoomba (127km)...about same
as from Melbourne to Morwell (152km). A trip that would have taken around 10
days.
In our prayers over the next two weeks before Christmas, let's often remember
Joseph and Mary and Jesus travelling to Bethlehem.
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
65. Saint Clare of Assisi, who was inspired by Francis, founded the Order of Poor Ladies, later called the Poor Clares. Her spiritual struggle consisted in faithfully maintaining the ideal of radical poverty. She refused the papal privileges that could have guaranteed material security for her monastery and, with firmness, obtained from Pope Gregory IX the so-called Privilegium Paupertatis, which guaranteed the right to live without any material goods. [53] This choice expressed her total trust in God and her awareness that voluntary poverty was a form of freedom and prophecy. Clare taught her sisters that Christ was their only inheritance and that nothing should obscure their communion with him. Her prayerful and hidden life was a cry against worldliness and a silent defense of the poor and forgotten.
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: Families
washed out of tents - Shame, Israel and USA. Shame, Shame, Shame! ***
Land
grab continues
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Advent 3
Isaiah
35: Strengthen all
weary hands, steady all trembling knees, and say to all faint hearts
"Courage! Do not be afraid. The Lord is coming to save you." Then the
eyes of the blind shall be opened, the ears of the deaf unsealed. Then the lame
shall leap like a deer, and the tongues of the dumb sing for joy. Exiles will
return to Zion shouting for joy, everlasting joy on their faces. Joy
and gladness will go with them. Sorrow and lament will be ended.
Lord, please heal the friends I know who are blind, deaf, dumb....
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
146:
It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever, who
is just to those who are oppressed. It is he who gives bread to the hungry, the
Lord, who sets prisoners free.
Come,
Lord, and save us
Come,
Lord, and save us
It
is the Lord who loves the just but thwarts the path of the
wicked. The Lord will reign for ever,
James
5.7-10: Be
patient, brothers, until the Lord's coming. Think of a farmer: how patiently he
waits for the precious fruit of the ground until it has had the autumn rains and
the spring rains! You too have to be patient; do
not lose heart, because the Lord's coming will be soon. Do not make
complaints against one another, brothers, so as not to be brought to judgement
yourselves; the Judge is already to be seen waiting at the gates. For your
example, brothers, in submitting with patience, take the prophets who spoke in
the name of the Lord.
Matthew
11.1-19: John the Baptist
sent some of his friends to ask Jesus "Are you the promised Anointed
One?" Jesus replied "Tell John what you hear and see: blind
people see, lame people walk, lepers are healed". Jesus also said to
the people around him how neither John nor himself could please the religious
leaders. "For John always fasted and never drank wine, and people said he
was possessed. I eat well and I drink wine and people call me a glutton and a
drunkard."
Jesus, please help me be someone who is easy to live with, someone who is not
hard to please
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: The influence of Jesus is so strong that even in the midst of our world's trials and troubles, just the thought of Christmas gives us hope and courage and strength and peace
-------------
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
-------------------------------
I
wonder who called Jesus a glutton and a drunkard? (c.f. Gospel, above)
------------------------------
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 14th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Jilin
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 Guinea Bissau
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
-----------------------
----------------------
Sat Dec 13
A kind friend has made and posted another video to help me warn
people about the danger of money laundering - here.
This is Number Six. The first five are here
(Nov 30)
I read every word of this excellent article by George
Monbiot: Populate
or perish
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
64. Saint Francis of Assisi became the icon of this spiritual springtime. By embracing poverty, he wanted to imitate Christ, who was poor, naked and crucified. In his Rule, he asks that “the brothers should not appropriate anything, neither house, nor place, nor anything else. And as pilgrims and strangers in this world, serving the Lord in poverty and humility, they should go about begging with confidence, and should not be ashamed, because the Lord made himself poor for us in this world.” [52] His life was one of continuous self-emptying: from the palace to the leper, from eloquence to silence, from possession to total gift. Francis did not found a social service organization, but an evangelical fraternity. In the poor, he saw brothers and sisters, living images of the Lord. His mission was to be with them, and he did so through a solidarity that overcame distances and a compassionate love. Francis’ poverty was relational: it led him to become neighbor, equal to, or indeed lesser than others. His holiness sprang from the conviction that Christ can only be truly received by giving oneself generously to one’s brothers and sisters.
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Sirach 48:
Then
the prophet Eli′jah arose
like a fire,
and his word burned like a torch.
He brought a famine upon them,
and by his zeal he made them few in number.
By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens,
and also three times brought down fire.
How glorious you were, O Eli′jah, in your wondrous deeds!
And who has the right to boast which you have?
You
who were taken up by a whirlwind of fire,
in a chariot with horses of fire;
you who are ready at the appointed time, it is written,
to calm the wrath of God before it breaks out in fury,
to turn the heart of the father to the son,
and to restore the tribes of Jacob.
Blessed are those who saw you,
and those who have been adorned in love;
for we also shall surely live.
Psalm
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
1 Peter
1.1-2: Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ, sends
greetings to the believers living among foreigners. You were chosen by God the Father. You
were made holy by the Spirit.
You are obedient to Jesus Christ
and are sprinkled with his blood. Grace and peace be with you more and more.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit - thank you for
life and faith
Listen
Matthew 17:
And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead.” And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Eli′jah must come?” He replied, “Eli′jah does come, and he is to restore all things; but I tell you that Eli′jah has already come, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of man will suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
Reflection:
Each Christian
is meant to be like Elijah and John the Baptist .... preparing a way for Jesus
-----------------------
The D before "Trump" stands for
"Delusional"?
------------------------------
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 13th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Jiangxi
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 13th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Congo
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
Fri 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 8 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 ( Jan 6-29 ... Holland,
Germany, Belgium and UK) I ask the protection of the same loving Mother! Mary
of Guadalupe, pray for us!
Yesterday afternoon at the Metropolitan University I joined John
Budge and Jane Chow from Voice for Prisoners and Eddie Chan from MercyHK
for a most encouraging meeting with the university President and Vice-President
to discuss ways of helping more prisoners take part in university courses (by
correspondence and by use of tablets)
US-sponsored
genocide in Gaza: Terrible
situation in West Bank
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
63. At the same time, “the universe as a whole, in all its manifold
relationships, shows forth the inexhaustible richness of God”. Hence, to be
wise, “we need to grasp the variety of things in their multiple
relationships”. [37] Along this path of wisdom, it is not a matter
of indifference to us that so many species are disappearing and that the
climate crisis endangers the life of many other beings.
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
see readings for Feast of
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Zechariah 2.14-17: Sing
and rejoice, O daughter Zion!
See,
I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.
Many
nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day,
and
they shall be his people,
and
he will dwell among you,
and
you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
The
LORD will possess Judah as his portion in the holy land,
and
he will again choose Jerusalem.
Silence,
all mankind, in the presence of the LORD!
For
he stirs forth from his holy dwelling.
Psalm
(Judith 13):R.
(15:9d) You
are the highest honor of our race.
Blessed
are you, daughter, by the Most High God,
above
all the women on earth;
and
blessed be the LORD God,
the
creator of heaven and earth.
R. You
are the highest honor of our race.
Your
deed of hope will never be forgotten
by
those who tell of the might of God.
R. You
are the highest honor of our race.
Revelation 11-12:
God’s
temple in heaven was opened,
and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.
A
great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.
Then another sign appeared in the sky;
it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns,
and on its heads were seven diadems.
Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky
and hurled them down to the earth.
Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth,
to devour her child when she gave birth.
She gave birth to a son, a male child,
destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.
Her child was caught up to God and his throne.
The woman herself fled into the desert
where she had a place prepared by God.
Then
I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed.”
Luke 1.39-47:
Mary
set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
And Mary said:
“My
soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”
Reflection:
As 25/12 comes
near, it's good to use the readings of this Marian feast to think more about the
Christmas Baby and his Blessed Mother
----------
At yesterday's Metropolitan University meeting, I was able
to give the university leaders a copy of MercyHK's new menu which features
several new items ... including a new drink: Metro
Matcha (named in honour of the university)! ("Dou Wui Matcha")
-------------------------
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 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, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
----------------------------
Thu Dec 11
I spent most of yesterday at the desk, many jobs connected with prisoners ....also some time on preparation for Jan 6-29 trip to Europe ... to try to stop drug mules coming to HK. If anyone has any media contacts in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Brussels or London ... pls let me know: jdwomi@gmail.com
Well done, Australia! Under
16 social media ban
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
61. The original spirituality of these orders was deeply rooted in contemplation of the cross. Christ is the Redeemer of prisoners par excellence, and the Church, his Body, prolongs this mystery in time. [48] Religious did not see redemption as a political or economic action, but as a quasi-liturgical act, the sacramental offering of themselves. Many gave their own bodies to replace prisoners, literally fulfilling the commandment: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” ( Jn 15:13). The tradition of these orders did not come to an end. On the contrary, it inspired new forms of action in the face of modern forms of slavery: human trafficking, forced labor, sexual exploitation and various forms of dependency. [49] Christian charity is liberating when it becomes incarnate. Likewise, the mission of the Church, when she is faithful to her Lord, is at all times to proclaim liberation. Even today, when “millions of people — children, women and men of all ages — are deprived of their freedom and forced to live in conditions akin to slavery,” [50] this legacy is carried on by these orders and other institutions and congregations working in urban peripheries, conflict zones and migration routes. When the Church bends down to break the new chains that bind the poor, she becomes a paschal sign.((To it's shame, the Catholic Church's record re slavery is very shameful indeed. It was the Evangelical churches which led the movement to abolish slavery. See apology of Pope John Paul II here))
-------------------------
The Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Isaiah 41-42:
The Lord says to his people Israel:
"I have chosen you. I have not rejected you.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Stop being anxious and worried.
I am your God. I give you strength and help. Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom my soul delights. I have endowed him with my spirit
that he may bring true justice to the nations. He does not cry out or shout aloud.
He does not extinguish the wavering flame. I have called him to serve the cause of right,
to open the eyes of the blind,
to free captives from prison".
Lord, please help me understand
how "my servant" is Jesus
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
145: I will give you glory, O God my king.
I will bless your name day after day. The Lord is great, worthy of all praise.
His greatness cannot be measured. Age to age shall proclaim your works,
shall speak of your splendor and glory. The Lord is kind and full of compassion,
slow to anger, abounding in love. How good is the Lord to all,
compassionate to all his creatures. All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,
and tell all the world of your love. The Lord is faithful in all his words
and loving in all his deeds. The Lord supports all who fall
and raises all who are bowed down. The eyes of all creatures look to you
and you give them their food each day. The Lord is close to all who call him,
who call on him from their hearts. Let the whole world bless the Lord's holy
name,
for ever, for ages unending.
Thank you, Lord, for your love.
Thank you for your love
Listen
James
5.13-18: If one of you is in trouble, pray. If you are
happy, sing a psalm. If someone is sick, send for the elders of the
church. They must anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and pray
over him.
The prayer of faith will save the sick man and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.
Confess your sins to one another, and pray for
one another,
and this will heal you. The heartfelt prayer of a good person is very
powerful. Elijah prayed for rain, and rain came
Jesus, please help sick people have the
opportunity
to receive the "Anointing of the Sick"
Listen
Matthew 11.1-19: John the Baptist sent some of his friends to
ask Jesus
"Are you the promised Anointed One?"
Jesus replied
"Tell John what you hear and see:
blind people see, lame people walk, lepers are healed". Jesus also said to the people around him
how neither John nor himself could please the religious leaders. "For John
always fasted and
never drank wine,
and people said he was possessed. I eat well and I drink wine
and people call me a glutton and a drunkard."
Jesus, please help me be
someone who is easy to live with,
someone who is not hard to please
Listen
Reflection: On Jesus' name card: "Blind people see, lame people walk, lepers are healed"
-----------------
A
few days ago I saw a man wearing a t-shirt with the words: EVEN A BAD DAY HAS
ONLY 24 HOURS
--------------------
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 11th 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 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, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
----------------------------
Wed Dec 10
Yesterday a kind lady who is out on bail (freed from detention!)
went to West Kowloon Court and paid a bail fine for a prisoner in Lai Chi Kok
men's prison ....which produced a get-out-jail letter from the court ...which
the kind lady then took to Lai Chi Kok ... for the man to be released. This is a
good story to go with Pope Leo's words, below, about releasing prisoners!
As is this video about money
laundering ...the best way to help prisoners is to stop them from going to
prison. This video is number 5 in a series being made by someone out on bail who
wants to do something to stop others going to prison! The first 4 videos are here
(Nov 30)
And
last night a young mother and her 3 day old baby girl arrived at one of our
shelters ... a Christmas baby!
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: Israel
worst enemy of journalists *** Israel
claims half of Gaza
Pope Leo XIV - Dilexi
Te
60. Between the late twelfth and the early thirteenth centuries, when many Christians were captured in the Mediterranean or enslaved in wars, two religious orders arose: the Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives (Trinitarians), founded by Saint John of Matha and Saint Felix of Valois, and the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy (Mercedarians), founded by Saint Peter Nolasco with the support of the Dominican Saint Raymond of Peñafort. These communities of consecrated persons were born with the specific charism of freeing Christians who had been enslaved, placing their own possessions at the disposal of the enslaved [46] and many times offering their own lives in exchange. The Trinitarians, with their motto Gloria tibi Trinitas et captivis libertas (Glory to you, O Trinity, and liberty to the captives), and the Mercedarians, who added a fourth vow [47] to the religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, testified that charity can be heroic. The liberation of prisoners is an expression of Trinitarian love: a God who frees not only from spiritual slavery but also from concrete oppression. The act of rescuing someone from slavery and captivity is seen as an extension of Christ’s redemptive sacrifice, whose blood is the price of our redemption (cf. 1 Cor 6:20).
-----------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Isaiah 40: The LORD is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny. He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound. Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles' wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.
Psalm
102: O Lord, listen to my
prayer in my distress.
Do not hide your face from me. For my days are
vanishing like smoke,
my bones burn away like a fire. I forget to eat my
bread.
My skin clings to my bones. All day long my foes
revile me.
Those who hate me use my name as a curse. But you, O Lord, will
endure for ever.
You will arise and have mercy on Sion. You will hear the
groans of the prisoners
and free those condemned to die. I pray to you: "Do
not take me away before my time has come,
you whose days last from age to age.
Lord, please help people who
are in great distress
Listen
James
5.1-6: Are you rich and powerful? Then start weeping
for the miseries that are coming your way. Your wealth is rotting, your clothes are being
eaten by moths.
And your body also will soon be corroding in a burning fire. You cheated your workers. You lived a life of luxury without any care for people who were suffering.
You condemned and killed the innocent
Jesus, give uncaring rich and powerful people a
change of heart
Listen
Matthew
11.25-30: One day Jesus prayed: Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
I am joyfully amazed at the way simple people
understand and accept what I'm saying,
while proud and clever people miss the plot. And he said to the ordinary people:
Come to me,
all you who are treated unfairly by unjust religious laws.
I will give you peace and justice. Learn from me, and you will know peace,
for I am gentle and humble of heart.
Jesus, please help people who
are suffering from unjust religious laws
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Psalm 102 also speaks of prisoners, like Pope Leo, above
-------------------
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
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 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, 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
/2017-12-27-Guadalupe-04.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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