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
Thu Nov 7
Yesterday
MercyHK case worker Lucia Leung and I spent most of the day at the High Court
securing the bail release of a man from Tanzania. God bless the kind judge! And
in my final hour of waiting for the man's release ... at the very second I left
the CSD G/F holding area of the High Court, a local lady with a "stop Gaza
genocide" sign was walking along the footpath, by herself, on the way to
the US Consulate. So I joined her for the walk and heard her story of courage.
Outside the consulate the police were waiting for her ... by appointment ... two
kind young policemen ... there to protect her from extremists who have
mistreated her on several occasions.
Podcast
interview with Gary Brightman
L.A.
Times owner - did not endorse Kamala Harris because of Gaza genocide - I
read every word of this and agree with it completely ... and I think that
history will show that the Democratic Party's complicity in Gaza genocide was
one reason for win by Donald Trump. Another reason goes with Gaza ... another
genocide associated with the Democratic Party, especially with Kamala Harris
herself ... the abortion policy of the Democrats
Pope's
new encyclical "He Loved Us"
12. It must be said, then, that we have a heart, a heart that coexists with other hearts that help to make it a “Thou”. Since we cannot develop this theme at length, we will take a character from one of Dostoevsky’s novels, Nikolai Stavrogin. Romano Guardini argues that Stavrogin is the very embodiment of evil, because his chief trait is his heartlessness: “Stavrogin has no heart, hence his mind is cold and empty and his body sunken in bestial sloth and sensuality. He has no heart, hence he can draw close to no one and no one can ever truly draw close to him. For only the heart creates intimacy, true closeness between two persons. Only the heart is able to welcome and offer hospitality. Intimacy is the proper activity and the domain of the heart. Stavrogin is always infinitely distant, even from himself, because a man can enter into himself only with the heart, not with the mind. It is not in a man’s power to enter into his own interiority with the mind. Hence, if the heart is not alive, man remains a stranger to himself”.
-------------------------
The Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Exodus 37-38:
The skilled workers next made the ark,
then the table for the bread
offerings,
then the lamp-stand and the altar of
incense.
Next they made the altar of
sacrifice,
the bronze basin
and the courtyard with its special
curtains.
Dear
God, please bless all skilled workers
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
99: The Lord is king. He is great in
Sion.
His power is seen throughout the world. Among his priests were Aaron, Moses and
Samuel.
They prayed to the Lord and he answered their call. Let peoples everywhere praise his
name.
He is holy, full of power.
Lord, may all peoples
know and love you
Listen
1 John 1.5-9: God is
light. There is no darkness in him.
If we say we are in union with God
while we are living in darkness,
we are lying, because we are not living the truth. If we say we have no sin in us,
we are deceiving ourselves
and refusing to admit the truth. But if we acknowledge our sins,
God will forgive us
and purify us from everything that is wrong
Jesus, forgive my sins. Please help me
avoid sin
Listen
Mark 15.42-47: Joseph from Arimathaea was a rich
man who had become a disciple of Jesus. After Jesus died on Friday, he
asked Governor Pilate for Jesus' body. Joseph wrapped the body in a clean
burial cloth and put it in a tomb in a rock cave. He then put a large
stone at the cave's entrance. Mary of Magdala and another woman watched Joseph as he put Jesus' body in the tomb
Jesus in the tomb, please give
eternal life to everyone who dies today
Listen
Reflection:
New
evidence about the Shroud of Turin
-----------------
Last night 16 women who work on Temple Street came to the Dr Jesus Centre for
another happy gathering. Thank you MercyHK canteen for lovely meal and thank you
Jane and Rosita for animation
--------------------
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 7th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 7th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Burkina
Faso
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the
week:
Jesus, today, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
----------------------------
Wed Nov 6
Yesterday I visited "18A" drug treatment centre on Hei
Ling Chau Island .... shook hands with about 150 men and left Bible booklets for
all of them ...encouraging them to make contact with MercyHK at our canteen at
191 Temple Street if they need help on release to find jobs/accommodation
Pope's
new encyclical "He Loved Us"
11. If we devalue the heart, we also devalue what it means to speak from the heart, to act with the heart, to cultivate and heal the heart. If we fail to appreciate the specificity of the heart, we miss the messages that the mind alone cannot communicate; we miss out on the richness of our encounters with others; we miss out on poetry. We also lose track of history and our own past, since our real personal history is built with the heart. At the end of our lives, that alone will matter.
-----------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Exodus 36: The Israelites were so generous towards
building the Tent
that Moses was told by the craftsmen:
"The people are bringing more than is needed for the Lord's
Tent."
The skilled workers made the tabernacle, the framework
and the veil for
the Tent of Meeting.
Dear
God, please give me a generous heart
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
Listen
1
John 1.1-2: Something which has existed since the
beginning,
that we heard,
that we saw with our own eyes,
that we touched with our hands:
the Word, who is life
- this is our subject. That life was made visible.
We saw it, and we are giving our testimony,
telling you of the eternal life
which was with the Father and has been made visible to us
Jesus, Word-made-flesh, you are the Way, the
Truth and the Life
Listen
Mark
15.33-39: Jesus was put on the cross sometime after 9am.
From about noon until 3pm there was darkness over all the land. About 3pm Jesus cried out the
words of Psalm 22
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" A little while later he again
cried out in a loud voice.
Then he died. At that moment the holy curtain in the Temple was torn in
two from top to bottom. The leader of the Roman soldiers
who crucified Jesus, when he saw how Jesus died, said "Truly this man
was a son of God"
Jesus, thank you for dying on
the cross for the salvation of the world
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: We cannot even begin to imagine the extent of Jesus' physical and mental suffering during his 6 hours on the Cross
-------------------
My Cantonese is deteriorating .... last night at the
canteen when I asked for some dumplings one of the staff brought me something
with a similar sounding name if you don't speak clearly ... a pair of
scissors!
-------------------------
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 6th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Hainan
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 6th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Mali
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
--------------------------------
Tues Nov 5
Yesterday morning I joined the annual O.M.I.visit to Cheung Sha
Wan cemetery to pray for the four O.M.I.s buried there ... as well as other
O.M.I.s who died overseas after serving in HK. Age-wise I'm next in line to be
number five!
Today I'm hoping to visit a prison ... one I have not visited for
a long time!
I
have signed this
petition calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza
Pope's
new encyclical "He Loved Us"
10. The issues raised by today’s liquid society are much discussed, but this depreciation of the deep core of our humanity – the heart – has a much longer history. We find it already present in Hellenic and pre-Christian rationalism, in post-Christian idealism and in materialism in its various guises. The heart has been ignored in anthropology, and the great philosophical tradition finds it a foreign notion, preferring other concepts such as reason, will or freedom. The very meaning of the term is imprecise and hard to situate within our human experience. Perhaps this is due to the difficulty of treating it as a “clear and distinct idea”, or because it entails the question of self-understanding, where the deepest part of us is also that which is least known. Even encountering others does not necessarily prove to be a way of encountering ourselves, inasmuch as our thought patterns are dominated by an unhealthy individualism. Many people feel safer constructing their systems of thought in the more readily controllable domain of intelligence and will. The failure to make room for the heart, as distinct from our human powers and passions viewed in isolation from one another, has resulted in a stunting of the idea of a personal centre, in which love, in the end, is the one reality that can unify all the others.
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Exodus
35: Moses encouraged the Israelites to give
willingly and generously
in building the Tent of Meeting.
Everyone whose heart was moved to help
brought their gifts for the Lord.
Dear
God, move our hearts to help other people
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
97: The Lord is king, let earth rejoice,
the many coastlands be glad.
Cloud and darkness are his robes.
His throne is justice and goodness. The skies proclaim his
goodness.
All peoples see his glory. Let those who serve idols be ashamed.
Let all creation worship the Creator. Light shines forth for good people
and joy for the upright of heart. Rejoice in the Lord, all good people.
Give glory to his holy name.
Lord, you indeed are God of the
universe
Listen
2 Peter
1.20 - 3.18: We must be careful to understand Scripture
according to God's mind.
We are not free to make up our own interpretations as we like. In the past there were false prophets. So
there will always be false prophets and teachers who twist the truth to
suit their own tastes and corrupt behavior. They will have much to
answer for when the Day of the Lord comes. Our brother Paul has written to you about this
issue. Sometimes his writing is not easy to understand, and is distorted by false teachers.
Avoid false teaching. Stand firm in the truth.
Go on growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To him be glory, in time and in eternity. Amen
Jesus, protect me from people who
distort the Bible message
Listen
Mark
15.21-32:
As Jesus was taken to the place of crucifixion,
a man named Simon, from Cyrene, was made to carry Jesus' cross. Sometime after 9am, Jesus was nailed to the
cross. Two robbers were crucified
with him, one on his right and one on his left.
Above Jesus' head was a sign with the charge against him.
The sign said "The King of the Jews". People passing by that place made
fun of Jesus.
So did the religious leaders. They mocked and taunted him.
Jesus on the Cross,
thank you for suffering so much for the salvation of the world
Listen
Reflection:
------------------------------
Yesterday at Cheung Sha Wan Cemetery I saw four wild
monkeys enjoying the cemetery premises .... especially the rubbish bins
containing food!
-------------------------------
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 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, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon Nov 4
Entire
population of northern Gaza at imminent risk of death ***
Gaza:
Death is everywhere. Fears grow that Israel plans to seize land
Pope's
new encyclical "He Loved Us"
9. In this “liquid” world of ours, we need to start speaking once more about the heart and thinking about this place where every person, of every class and condition, creates a synthesis, where they encounter the radical source of their strengths, convictions, passions and decisions. Yet, we find ourselves immersed in societies of serial consumers who live from day to day, dominated by the hectic pace and bombarded by technology, lacking in the patience needed to engage in the processes that an interior life by its very nature requires. In contemporary society, people “risk losing their centre, the centre of their very selves”. “Indeed, the men and women of our time often find themselves confused and torn apart, almost bereft of an inner principle that can create unity and harmony in their lives and actions. Models of behaviour that, sadly, are now widespread exaggerate our rational-technological dimension or, on the contrary, that of our instincts”. No room is left for the heart.
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Exodus
34: Again Moses went up the mountain and
stood before God.
God described himself: "I am the Lord,
a God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger,
rich in kindness and faithfulness."
When Moses came down from the mountain
the skin on his face was radiant
after speaking with God.
Dear
God, we praise your tenderness and compassion
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
2
Peter 1.12-18: As long as I am in this passing world, my duty
is to keep on reminding you of the truths we hold dear. Writing this letter is one way of making sure
that after my departure you will still have a way of recalling the truths
we hold dear. These truths are not cleverly invented myths.
I myself saw the majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was honored and glorified by God the
Father,
when the Sublime Glory himself spoke to him and said
"This is my Son, the Beloved. He enjoys my favor".
I heard this myself, spoken from heaven,
when I was with Jesus on the holy mountain
Jesus, Beloved Son, may more and more people
accept the truth of your Good News
Listen
Mark
15.16-20: After the Roman soldiers scourged Jesus, they made fun of him.
They put a purple cloak on him. They made a crown out of thorns and put it
on his head. They knelt in front of him
and mocked him saying "Hail, king of the Jews". They hit
his head with a reed, and spat on him.
When they had finished making fun of him,
they dressed him in his own clothes and led him away to crucify him
Jesus, please don't let me hurt
other people by making fun of them
Listen
Reflection: The Beloved Son (2 Peter), through whom the beautiful world was made (Psalm 96), full of tenderness and compassion (Exodus) ... was scourged and mocked by his creatures (Gospel)
-------------------------
--------------------
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 4th of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Guangdong
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, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
-----------------------
----------------------
Sun Nov 3
US election: If I was a US citizen, I could not vote for
Harris ...because of her present US government's evil complicity in Gaza
genocide and also her abortion policy... and I could not vote for Trump
....because his mental condition is a clear and present danger to the US and the
world. Therefore, as a protest, I would lodge a
blank vote
100
BBC staff protest at Israeli bias ((same can be
said for HK"s SCMP and Standard))
10
tonnes (!) of drug material seized in Victoria
Pope's
new encyclical "He Loved Us"
8. Instead of running after superficial satisfactions and playing a role for the benefit of others, we would do better to think about the really important questions in life. Who am I, really? What am I looking for? What direction do I want to give to my life, my decisions and my actions? Why and for what purpose am I in this world? How do I want to look back on my life once it ends? What meaning do I want to give to all my experiences? Who do I want to be for others? Who am I for God? All these questions lead us back to the heart.
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Sunday 31
Deuteronomy
6: Moses
continued his speech to the people: "Listen Israel. You
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with
all your strength. Let these words I urge on you today be written on your
heart. You shall repeat them to your children and say them when you are resting
in your house or going for a walk, when you are lying down and when you get up.
You shall fasten them on your hand as a sign and on your forehead as a circlet.
You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
Dear Lord, please help us to love you with all our hearts
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
Hebrews
7.1-28: Melchizedek
was king of Salem and a priest of God. He blessed Abraham. Abraham gave
Melchizedek 10% of all he had. Melchizedek's priesthood continued down the
ages in people dedicated to the service of God. It reached its perfection in the
Son of God, the Eternal High Priest. The Son of God, our Lord, did not come from
the priestly tribe of Levi. Everyone knows he came from the tribe of Judah. This
is because he established a new priesthood, coming not from Levi, but from
Melchizedek. This is why the prophecy was made of him "You are a priest of
the order of Melchizedek, for ever". Jesus'
priestly power to save us is utterly certain, since he is living for ever
to intercede for all who come to God through him
Jesus, Eternal High Priest, please help all pastors and priests be more like
you every day
Listen
Mark
12.28-30: In Jerusalem a
religious leader asked Jesus "Which is the most important
commandment?" Jesus replied "You
must love the Lord your God with all your heart. And you must care as much about
others as you care about yourself. These are the two most important
commandments. All other commandments depend on these two."
Jesus, please help me love you with all my heart and care for others as much
as I care about myself
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings: FATHER MAY
WE LIVE AND GROW AND DIE IN
YOUR LOVE. JESUS MAY
WE LIVE AND GROW AND DIE IN
YOUR LOVE. SPIRIT MAY
WE LIVE AND GROW AND DIE IN
YOUR LOVE.
Listen to
song with these words
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
-------------------------------
For
the past two nights of Devali, a group of Nepal children and teenagers have been
dancing in front of the many Nepal shops near the MercyHK canteen and Dr Jesus
Centre.....really beautiful ...especially last night when 20 month old Patricia
(who is temporarily being cared for by MercyHK) joined in the gathering!
------------------------------
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 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, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
-----------------------
----------------------
Sat Nov
2
All Souls Day
Yesterday morning I was at nearby West Kowloon Court for a
"mention" hearing of one of the people for whom I am surety and have
provided bail. This was followed by a most distinctive type of media interview
at the Dr Jesus Centre (... more information later).
Two days ago a regular customer at MercyHK's canteen shared with
me why he likes supporting the canteen: "You people care about prisoners,
and my father was a prisoner" (the canteen employs only people who
were in detention)
US
surgeon refused re-entry to Gaza ***
UN
should suspend Israel
Pope's
new encyclical "He Loved Us"
7. As an illustration of this, I would repeat a story I have already told on another occasion. “For the carnival, when we were children, my grandmother would make a pastry using a very thin batter. When she dropped the strips of batter into the oil, they would expand, but then, when we bit into them, they were empty inside. In the dialect we spoke, those cookies were called ‘lies’… My grandmother explained why: ‘Like lies, they look big, but are empty inside; they are false, unreal’”.
--------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. Readings for All Souls Day
Isaiah 25: On Mount Zion in Jerusalem, the
Lord will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich food, a banquet of fine
wines. On this
mountain he will delete Death. The
Lord will wipe away the tears from every cheek. Lord, you are my God, I
extol you, I praise your name. You, Lord, are a refuge for the poor, a refuge
for the needy in distress.
Lord, please give hope and courage to people who are sad and troubled in the
world today
My recording of this reading
Psalm
27: The Lord is my light and
my help, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, before whom
shall I shrink? Though an army encamp against me, even then would I trust. There
is one thing I ask of the Lord, for this I long: to live in the house of the
Lord all the days of my life. It is your face, O Lord, that I seek. Hide not
your face. I
am sure I will see your goodness in the land of the living. Hope in the
Lord, hold firm and take heart. Hope in the Lord!
Lord, please increase my remembering, my longing and my hope
Recording
Philippians
3.20-4.1: Our
homeland is in heaven. We wait for the Savior from heaven who will
transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. He
will do this by the same power he has as C.E.O. of the universe. So, do not stop
running but remain faithful in the Lord.
Jesus, please increase my longing for heaven
Recording
Mark
16.1-8: Jesus died
on Friday afternoon. Early on Sunday morning, Mary of Magdala and two other
women went to Jesus' tomb to
anoint his body with spices. They had been wondering how they would roll away
the large stone, but when they arrived, the stone had already been rolled away.
When they went into the tomb, they saw a young man in a white robe and they were
full of awe. But he said to them "Do not be afraid. You are looking
for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. He
has risen from the dead. Go and tell his disciples he will see them in
Galilee"
Jesus, when life seems hopeless, like a dead body in a tomb, please help us
remember how you rose from the dead .... and you can help us "rise"
from any "hopeless" situation
Recording
Reflection
on the above Bible readings:
One thing that nearly all cultures share: an instinct to remember the dead, to
pray for the dead, to honor the dead.
-----------------------
Already November .... can someone please tell me why this
year has gone so quickly?!?
------------------------------
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 2nd
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Fujian
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 2nd
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Central
African Republic
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
Fri Nov 1
Happy All Saints Day!
Yesterday and today Kong
's Indian and Nepalese communities are celebrating the Festival of Diwali
(pronounced "Divali"). Diwali is one of the most important
festivals in the world, but I must admit that until I came to
103kg
of drugs seized at Melbourne and Sydney airports
Pope's
new encyclical "He Loved Us"
6. This interior reality of each person is frequently concealed behind a great deal of “foliage”, which makes it difficult for us not only to understand ourselves, but even more to know others: “The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse, who can understand it?” (Jer 17:9). We can understand, then, the advice of the Book of Proverbs: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life; put away from you crooked speech” (4:23-24). Mere appearances, dishonesty and deception harm and pervert the heart. Despite our every attempt to appear as something we are not, our heart is the ultimate judge, not of what we show or hide from others, but of who we truly are. It is the basis for any sound life project; nothing worthwhile can be undertaken apart from the heart. False appearances and untruths ultimately leave us empty-handed.
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f.
Readings for All Saints Day
Revelation 7.9-17: I saw a
huge number, impossible to count, of people
from every nation, race, and language. They were standing in front of the
throne, with palms in their hands. They shouted: "Victory
to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb". One
of the elders told me who these people are: "These are the people who have
been through the great persecution. They now serve God day and night in his
sanctuary. The Lamb is their Shepherd. He leads them to springs of living water.
God has wiped away all tears from their eyes"
Jesus, please help sorrowing people who are crying today
My
recording of this reading
Psalm 24: The
Lord's is the earth and its fullness, the world and all its peoples. It is he
who set it on the seas; on the waters he made it firm. Who shall climb the
mountain of the Lord? Who
shall stand in his holy place? People with clean
hands and pure hearts, who desire not worthless things. They shall receive
blessings from the Lord and reward from the God who saves them. Such are the
people who seek him, seek the face of the God of Jacob.
God, by living a good life, help me to seek your face
1
John 3.1-3: Think of
the love that the Father has lavished on us by letting us be called God's
children. And God's love has even more in store for us in the future: we
shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is. This is why
we must try to live good lives. We must try to be as good as Christ.
Jesus, please help me be more like you
Recording
Matthew
5.1-12: Jesus said
to the crowds: Blessed are poor
and simple of heart people. They belong to the kingdom of heaven. Blessed
are people who are going through great sorrow. Their hearts will be
filled with peace. Blessed
are people who lead just and honest lives. They will see the victory of
goodness. Blessed
are people who show mercy to others. God will be merciful to them. Blessed
are people who have a clean heart. They will see God. Blessed
are people who are peacemakers. They are God's children. Blessed
are people who are persecuted for the cause of right. They will receive a
great reward in heaven.
Jesus, please help me be merciful and
kind and just
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
All you Saints in Heaven, great and small, pray for us!
----------
When
the Saints Go Marching In!
-------------------------
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 1st
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Anhui
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 1st of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of Niger
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
-
----------------------------
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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