V2Catholic.com
A voice for the poor
by HK prison chaplain 胡頌恆神父
Fr John Wotherspoon
O.M.I.
jdwomi@gmail.com
+852 67095674
Imitating
Pope Francis 78
Wed July 8
Yesterday my Voice for Prisoners colleague John Budge and
I joined a very special government official for a special lunch time meeting to
discuss the issue of drug trafficking in HK
Over the past two days I watched this excellent video: A
deeper understanding of Psalm 23 The Lord is My Shepherd
39. On the centenary of Rerum Novarum, the Encyclical Centesimus Annus offered a reflection on the collapse of the Soviet system and the rise of democracy and the market economy. Saint John Paul II reiterated Pius XII’s message that the Church values democracy insofar as it guarantees the effective participation of citizens, enables them to elect and peacefully replace their leaders and prevents power from being monopolized by small elite groups motivated by particular or ideological interests. [40] Likewise, the Church recognizes the positive potential of the market and private initiative only if they remain subordinate to the moral law and are guided by the principle of solidarity, without sacrificing the most vulnerable to the rationale of profit. [41] This adds a particularly relevant legacy to the Social Doctrine of the Church. The affirmation of the link between the dignity of work, solidarity among peoples, a critical assessment of democracy and the market economy continues to provide criteria for evaluating new forms of exploitation, exclusion and crises in political representation.
-----------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Leviticus 11-12:
The people were told which animals were
"clean"
and which were "unclean". Only "clean" animals were allowed to be eaten.
Regulations were also made for when a woman had a baby:
a lamb or two turtledoves or two young pigeons
were to be offered as a prayer for mother and baby.
Dear God, please give me a
clean heart
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
94: O Lord, Judge of the earth,
how long will the wicked crush the poor? The wicked say "God does not hear".
But can he who made the ear, not hear? Blessed are those whom the Lord teaches.
The Lord gives them peace in troubled times. When cares increase in my heart,
God's consolation calms my soul.
Lord, when cares and troubles
increase, please help us to trust in you
Listen
Acts
12.20-23: Wearing his robes of state and sitting on a
throne, King Herod made a speech to the leaders of Tyre and Sidon. People
acclaimed him saying "It is a god speaking, not a man!" At that moment,
the angel of the Lord struck
him down, because he had not given the glory to God. He was eaten away
with worms and died
Jesus, please help us remember that all our
talents are a gift from you. "Not to us, Lord, but to your name be
the glory"
Listen
Luke
18.35-43: As Jesus entered Jericho, there was a blind
beggar sitting by the road. People in the crowd told him that Jesus of
Nazareth was passing by. So he called out "Jesus, Son of David,
have pity on me". Some people told him to be quiet, but he just
shouted all the louder "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me". Jesus stopped and asked him "What do you
want me to do for you?"
He replied "Sir, let me see again". Jesus said to him "Receive your sight.
Your faith has saved you".
Instantly his sight returned, and he followed Jesus, praising God
Jesus, please heal my blind friend
......(name)...
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: A powerful prayer, especially in times of special need: JESUS, SON OF DAVID, HAVE PITY ON ME!
---------------------------
-------------------------
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 the
people in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 8th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Heilingjiang
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 Sierra
Leone
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
--------------------------------
-------------------------------
Tues July 7
A good news story: The kindness of 5 teenagers
38. With his Encyclical Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, marking the twentieth anniversary of Populorum Progressio, John Paul II reexamined the scourge of underdevelopment. He acknowledged the failure of numerous attempts to accelerate the economic development of poor peoples and to assist them in the process of industrialization, noting the persistent and indeed widening gap between the world’s North and South. [37] He also denounced the economic, financial and commercial mechanisms that, managed by the strongest economies, structurally favor their own interests while stifling weaker economies, and he asked that they be subjected to serious ethical, not just technical, scrutiny. [38] In this context, solidarity was understood as a concrete, shared responsibility among individuals, peoples and nations — a form of social friendship or political charity oriented toward the “civilization of love” proposed by Paul VI. [39]
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ...and attack on Iran & Lebanon:
Video
-
Israeli soldier throws stun grenade into Palestinian car
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Leviticus
8-10: Moses followed God's instructions
and ordained Aaron and his sons as priests.
Moses washed them, put special clothing on them,
anointed their heads with chrism
and offered a special animal sacrifice on their behalf.
Then Aaron lifted up his hands towards the people
and blessed them.
A flame from the Lord consumed the offering on the altar.
The people shouted for joy and fell on their knees.
But later on when two of Aaron's sons offered unauthorized fire,
a fire from the Lord consumed them.
Moses then said:
"God expects the highest standard from priests".
Dear God, please bless and
protect all priests
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
93: The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed,
he has girded himself with power. The world you made firm, not to be moved.
From all eternity, O Lord, you are. The oceans and coastlines of the world
are majestic and powerful. But greater than the roar of mighty waters,
more glorious than the surging of the sea
is the Lord on high.
Such a Lord, such a Creator, such a God.
Truly your decrees are to be trusted.
Holiness is fitting to your house
O Lord, always and everywhere.
We praise you, Lord, our
Creator
Listen
Acts
12.1-17:
About this time, King Herod began persecuting
the church. He beheaded the apostle James, brother of John. He arrested
Peter during Passover time. He put Peter in prison and planned to have him
put on trial and killed after Passover. Each day Peter was in prison, the
believers
stormed heaven praying for him. On the night before he was to be put on
trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with chains, with
more soldiers at the prison entrance. Suddenly Peter's cell was filled with light,
and an angel told him to get up. The chains fell from his hands. The angel
led Peter out of the prison, without the guards knowing what was happening.
Peter then left for another place. Herod was
unable to find him
Jesus, please help Christians who are in
prison for their faith
Listen
Matthew
20.20-28:
The brothers James and John were two of Jesus'
disciples.
One day their mother said to Jesus
"When you become king, allow my sons to sit at your right and
left". Jesus said to James
and John
"Only my Father in heaven can allocate seats on my right and
left". The 10 other disciples were angry
at James and John for seeking honor. So Jesus said to them all
"In most places, people in power like to dominate and control others.
But this is not to be your way of exercising authority. You must exercise authority by
serving others, not dominating them,
just as I came not to be served, but to serve,
and to give my life as a ransom for the world".
Jesus, please help me want to help and serve
other people, not dominate and control them
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: The highest form of service - sacrificing one's life for others
------------------------------
Learn
another language to slow down brain aging!?
-------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia,
Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent, N America
Jesus,
today, Tuesday,
please bless the people of
South
Asia
And praying for the
people in one
part of China 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, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon July 6
This is really good: The 12 apostles
explained ... as is this one: The
Septuagint
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ...and attack on Iran & Lebanon:
JESUS, PLEASE GIVE PEACE TO MIDDLE EAST!
Pope's
AI letter ***
Simon Tisdall: Thank
heavens for Pope
37. The rich social teaching of Saint John Paul II lies at the crossroads of the crisis of the great ideological systems of the twentieth century and the onset of economic globalization. His Encyclical Laborem Exercens, written ninety years after the publication of Rerum Novarum, opened up a new avenue for reflection on work. It presents fair wages as the concrete means of verifying the justness of the entire socioeconomic system because they reveal whether the worker is treated as a person or merely as a cost of production. [35] Work is not considered simply as a problem to be dealt with or a means of generating income, but a fundamental good for the person, a principle of economic activity and the key to the entire societal question. Through work, human beings bring their freedom, creativity and capacity for cooperation into play, contributing to the cultural and moral elevation of society. [36] In light of this, the various kinds of job insecurity, fragmented career paths and automation must not be evaluated solely in terms of efficiency, but in relation to the dignity of the worker, the right to sufficient remuneration and the genuine possibility of participating in society.
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Leviticus
1-7: Moses instructed
the people:
As a sign that you are asking God for forgiveness,
put your hand on an animal's head
as you sacrifice it to the Lord.
Dear God, please forgive my sins
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
92: It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning,
and your truth right through the night. Your deeds, O Lord, have made me glad.
For the work of your hands, I shout with joy. To me you give the wild ox's strength.
You anoint me with the purest oil. May we love and praise you right through our
lives,
right till the end of our days. May we keep on proclaiming your goodness,
proclaiming that in you, our rock, there is only goodness.
Lord, it is right and fitting
to love and praise you
Listen
Acts
11.19-26: Some believers went to Antioch in Syria where they
preached the Good News
of the Lord Jesus to non-Jewish people. Many
non-Jewish people became believers. Barnabas, a good man filled with the Holy
Spirit, was sent to Antioch in Syria to encourage the new believers to remain
faithful to the Lord. Barnabas brought
Paul from Tarsus to Antioch.
They stayed in Antioch one year, instructing a large number of people. It was at Antioch that the believers were
first called "Christians"
Jesus, please help me be a good Christian
Listen
Matthew
20.1-16: Jesus said to his disciples
The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire
workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them the normal daily
wage. Then about 9am he went again to
the market place. He saw more men without a job. He got them also to
go to his vineyard. He promised to pay them a fair wage. About noon and again about
3pm he
once more went to the market place and employed two more groups of
men. About 5pm he went one final time
and employed one last group of men. At sunset when the men came to be
paid, the owner paid everyone a normal day's wage. This made the
dawn group unhappy. They grumbled and said "We
have done a full day's work in the heat. Yet we got the same as those who
did only one hour's work. This is not fair!" The owner replied "I am
paying you what we agreed to. Why do you begrudge my generosity?"
Jesus, please help me not to be jealous of your
gifts to others
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: The hours of the day in Gospel can correspond to ages in a human life
-------------------------
When
I can't think of or make up an item for here, maybe AI can help? ...next time!
--------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia,
Pacific
Frid: South America
Sat: Cent, N. America
Jesus,
today, Monday,
please bless the people of Europe
& Russia
And
praying for the 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, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
-----------------------
----------------------
Sun July 5
Another
beautiful sharing by MercyHK's Shirley Lee - the story of A-Man
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ...and attack on Iran & Lebanon:
JESUS, PLS GIVE PEACE TO THE MIDDLE EAST!
Pope's
AI letter ***
Pope's
July 4 message to USA
36. In Octogesima Adveniens, written on the occasion of the eightieth anniversary of Rerum Novarum, Paul VI applied this perspective to postindustrial society, marked by urbanization, new forms of poverty and rapid cultural changes that called into question the future of individuals and communities. Paul VI believed that although the Gospel was proclaimed, written and lived out in a historical and cultural context very different from our own, its message was not “outdated.” [33] Instead, it offers a vision of the human person, relationships, authority and the common good that is still capable of guiding economic, political and cultural choices today. In other words, the Gospel remains relevant because it provides the criteria for recognizing what humanizes or dehumanizes and what liberates or oppresses in ever-changing situations. For the Social Doctrine of the Church, Paul VI’s most demanding legacy is precisely this: as long as there are people in the world who are excluded from the development befitting human dignity, the Christian community cannot be content with a theoretical proclamation of peace. Rather, beginning where people are marginalized, it must allow the Gospel to pass judgment on those economic and political structures which — as John Paul II would later remind us — can become veritable “structures of sin.” [34] As a result, no person or people will be treated as expendable in the processes of development
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Sunday 14
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
01
Romans
8.9-13: You
are on God's team. God the Father is the manager. Jesus is the captain. The Holy
Spirit is the coach, a coach living in your heart. If the Spirit of him who
raised Jesus from the dead, is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the
dead will help you live a risen life. By
the grace of the Holy Spirit you can stop doing bad things
Holy Spirit of Jesus, Holy Spirit of the Father, fall afresh on me!
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: Jesus had a humble heart. This must also be the aim of every Christian.
-------------------------------
Even
two year old baby boys in HK are wearing Argentina football tops!
------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia,
Pacific
Fri: South America
Sat: Cent., N America
Jesus,
today, Sunday,
please bless the people of
Africa
And praying for the
people in one part
of China 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, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
-----------------------
----------------------
Sat July 4
Yesterday morning at the High Court I submitted a bail
application for which there will be a hearing next Thursday.
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ...and attack on Iran & Lebanon:
13
more illegal Israeli settlements for West Bank
35. During the Pontificate of Saint Paul VI, an understanding of peace emerged that was not reduced to the mere absence of war, but took shape within the scope of integral human development. In Populorum Progressio, he described development as a transition from less humane to more humane living conditions. He further understood it as a process that concerns “each person and the whole person,” [31] that is every dimension of the person and all people without exception. For this reason, Paul VI could affirm that development understood in this way is in reality “the new name for peace,” [32] because it aims to eradicate the roots of injustice and conflict and create opportunities for a more dignified life for all. The establishment of the Pontifical Commission Iustitia et Pax should also be seen in this light as an attempt to give stable form to this insight at the ecclesial and international levels, while bearing in mind the growing gap between rich and poor countries and the need for policies that genuinely promote more humane living conditions for all.
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Exodus
40:
God said to Moses:
"On the first day of the first month,
consecrate and start using the Tent of Meeting.
Use chrism to anoint all the furnishings.
Anoint Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests."
Moses did everything that God asked.
Then a cloud covered the Tent
and the glory of God filled the sacred site.
At every stage of their journey in the desert,
the Israelites would continue their march
whenever the cloud rose from the sacred site.
A fire shone within the cloud at night.
Dear
God, please guide us on our way through life
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
91: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
says to the Lord "you are my refuge in whom I trust". The Lord will hide you and protect you.
Under his wings you will find refuge. You will not fear any night time terror,
nor any attack during the day. Upon you no evil shall fall,
no plague approach where you dwell.
For you has he commanded his angels
to keep you safe in all your ways.
Dear God, thank you for your
protection day and night
Listen
Acts
10.1-48:
Cornelius was a Roman centurion stationed in
the town of Caesarea.
He and his household prayed, loved God, and helped the local people. One morning Cornelius had a vision that Peter
would visit him.
In another town, Peter was instructed by the Lord to visit Cornelius. Peter preached God's message to Cornelius and
his household.
While Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit came down on all the listeners.
Jewish believers who had accompanied
Peter were astonished
that the Holy Spirit would come down on non-Jewish people
Holy Spirit, please come down on all peoples
everywhere!
Listen
John
11.46-54: The religious leaders had a meeting to decide
what to do about Jesus.
They said "If this man keeps on doing miracles, everyone will follow him. Then
the Romans will see him as a threat, and they will wipe out our
nation". The main leader said "It is better
for one man to die for the people, than for the whole nation to be
destroyed". These words had more meaning than the leader
realized, since Jesus was to die not just for the nation, but for the
whole world. Since the leaders wanted to kill him, Jesus
went to a remote area near the desert, and stayed there with his disciples
Jesus, please help me better understand how
your death saved the world
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Jesus died for the whole world, for everyone, not for "many" as our faulty English Mass translation puts it
---------------------------
Lions
had good win last Thursday night!
------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent. & N
America
Jesus,
today, Saturday,
please bless the people of Central
& North America
And
praying for the people in one
part of China 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, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
Fri July 3
Yesterday I was at Tai Lam women's prison for about 6 hours -
noticing that the beautiful waterfall whicht was flowing 3 days ago has stopped
flowing for the time being.
Guardian
Editorial on Trump's wealth and power
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ...and attack on Iran & Lebanon:
Israel
continuing to kill people in Gaza
34. The Second Vatican Council marked a turning point in the Church’s understanding of herself in the contemporary world. In the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, the Council presented the image of a Church that is close to humanity, engaged with the world and committed to reflecting on the concrete reality of historical situations, rather than abstract concepts. The text addresses the major issues of marriage and the family, economic and societal life, the political community, war and peace. It insists that economic and institutional structures are just only to the extent that they serve the integral development of the person and promote the responsible participation of all. [29] The importance of this conciliar document for the Social Doctrine of the Church lies not only in having opened up horizons for thematic reflection, but also in its method of discernment that invites us to interpret historical changes guided by the Gospel and human expertise. This approach reveals that dialogue with the world is not a tactical choice for the Church, but a concrete expression of her mission because the Gospel, like leaven, is capable of transforming the structures of society from within and forging paths toward a greater humanity. The Declaration Dignitatis Humanae can be included in the same context. Here, the Council recognized that religious freedom is a fundamental right grounded in human dignity that must be guaranteed by law so as to prevent people from being forced to act against their conscience or impeded from seeking and professing the truth both privately and publicly. [30] This principle is highly relevant today and continues to provide Social Doctrine with decisive criteria for protecting individuals and building pluralistic and peaceful societies.
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
For
Feast of St Thomas
Ephesians 2.19-22: In
God's Church you are not foreigners. You are citizens. You
are part of a building that has the
apostles and
prophets for its base. Christ Jesus himself is the foundation stone. You
are being built into a house where God lives
Jesus, be the foundation stone of my life
Recording
Psalm
117: O Praise the
Lord, all you nations. Acclaim
him, all you peoples! Strong is his love for us. He is
faithful for ever.
May all the nations love and praise you, Lord
Recording
John
20.21-29 (a): That
same Sunday evening, the doors were locked in the room where the disciples had
gathered, for fear of the religious leaders. But Jesus appeared and stood before
them, saying "Peace be with you". He showed them his hands and his
side and said "As the Father sent me, so I am sending you". Then he
breathed on them, saying "Receive the Holy Spirit". Thomas,
one of the 12 apostles, was not there that night. When the other disciples said
they had seen the Lord, he replied "Unless I see and touch his wounded
body, I refuse to believe"
Recording
John
20.21-29 (b): Eight
days later, the group was again in the same house, with the doors locked. This
time Thomas was
with them. Jesus
again appeared and stood before them saying "Peace be with you". Then
he said to Thomas "Put your hand into my side. Doubt no longer, but
believe". Thomas replied "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said
"You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen me
and yet believe"
Jesus, my Lord and my God, I believe in you. Help me live and grow and die in
your friendship
Recording
Reflection on the above readings: Pope Francis has said that each time we help a poor person, we lovingly touch Jesus' wounded side ... like Thomas
-------------------------
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-------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid: S.
America
Sat: Cent, N. America
Jesus,
today, Friday,
please bless the people of South
America
And praying for the
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, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
----------------------------
Thu July 2
Last Sunday MercyHK staff and special friends took part in a
Community Run - report here: 
How
we are helping
prisoners take university correspondence courses
UK
allowing UAE to fuel war in Sudan
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ...and attack on Iran & Lebanon:
Lebanon-Israel
agreement paving way for next war
33. A new phase in the Church’s social teaching began with Saint John XXIII, who placed a greater emphasis on the global dimension of social issues and the language of rights. In Mater et Magistra, he presented the Christian faith as a light capable of uniting heaven and earth. He recalled that, while the Church’s primary mission is the sanctification and proclamation of eternal goods, she does not neglect the concrete needs of people’s daily lives, and is concerned with every authentic human good. [27] Based on this unified vision of humanity, John XXIII emphasized that societal life requires a balance between the initiative of citizens and groups — who are called to organize themselves and work together — and the action of the State, which must coordinate and provide support without stifling the freedom and responsibility of individuals. Hence, he drew attention to fair remuneration for work, worker participation and the growing disparities between countries. A few years later, in Pacem in Terris, John XXIII addressed for the first time not only the faithful, but also all people of good will, organically linking the dignity of the person to the recognition of fundamental rights and duties, and proposing a direction for society — at the international level too — based on truth, justice, love and freedom. [28] In the present day, which is marked by widespread conflict and new forms of global interdependence, the following aspects of his thought remain particularly significant: the universal perspective of his appeal; his reference to human rights as a shared framework; and his conviction that lasting peace requires institutions and relations between peoples that are inspired by the dignity of every person.
-------------------------
The Book Blog: 4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Exodus 39: The skilled workers made the high
priest's vestments:
his ephod, his breastpiece, his robe.
Vestments were also made for the ordinary priests.
When everything for the whole Tent was finished,
Moses examined all the work.
He saw what a good job the workers had done.
Moses then blessed all the workers.
Dear
God, please help me always to do a good job
Recording
Psalm 88: Lord my God, day and night I call to you for
help.
Please turn your ear to my cry. For my soul is filled with evils.
My life is on the brink of the grave. I am reckoned as one in the tomb.
I have reached the end of my strength. Will your love be told in the grave?
Will your wonders be known in the dark? Fear surrounds me like a flood. All my friends have deserted me.
My only companion is darkness.
Lord, please help people who
are in despair
Recording
Acts 9.32-35: Peter visited churches in many areas. When he
went to Lydda,
he saw a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bed-ridden for 8 years.
Peter said to him "Aeneas, Jesus Christ
cures you.
Get up and fold up your sleeping mat". Aeneas got up immediately. The people of that
area who saw him, were converted to the Lord
Jesus, let there be more miracles of healing,
so that more people will believe in you
Listen
John 11.1-44: Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha lived
in the village of Bethany. When Lazarus became very sick, the sisters sent
a message to Jesus "Lord, your dear friend is very sick". By the time Jesus and his disciples
arrived in Bethany,
Lazarus was dead and buried for 4 days. Martha said to Jesus "If you had been
here, my brother would not have died". Jesus replied "I am the resurrection and
the life. If anyone believes in me, he will have life after death". Jesus said to Mary and Martha "Where have
you put him?" Jesus cried as he went to the tomb. The tomb was a
cave with a stone at the entrance. Jesus said "Take the stone away".
Then he called out in a loud voice "Lazarus, come out!"
The dead man came out, wrapped in burial
clothes. Jesus said "Unwrap him and let him go free"
Jesus, you are the Resurrection and the Life.
Please give eternal life to my friend (....name...) who died recently
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: "Get up!" (Acts), "Come out!" (Gospel) ... not requests but commands!
---------------
Today I'm hoping to visit Tai Lam women's prison ... did not
finish last Tuesday so I need to go back.... am trying ...unsuccessfully... to
reduce the number of people to see each visit
--------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Mon:
Tues:
Wed:
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid:
Sat:
Cent,
Jesus,
today, Thursday,
please bless
the people of
And praying for the people in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 2nd 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 2nd
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Central
African Repubic
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the
week:
Jesus, today, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
----------------------
---------------------------
Anti-drug
campaign trips: 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 ( 2016:
My trip to Kenya, Uganda
---------------- 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 2018-07-29:
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 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nomasmulas/ Facebook: Chinese
no more mules page http://hkdrugblog.org/name-and-shame/index.htm ---------------------- --------------------- --------------------- Left
click this table of flags for details of hits on this main page This website
was launched in construction mode in Hong Kong on November
20, 2011 - the Feast of Christ the King. The
official launching was held on
the Gold Coast, Australia, on January 20, 2012. Map and Flag Counter
began Feb 11, 2012. Previous visits 4,932. Note: counter on this
page + Map & Flag Counter record visits only to this main/index
page. Visits to other pages and to Facebook page are not recorded.
This site's 2017 statistics.
Thank you for checking this website each day. God bless all readers and
bloggers! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ .
Europe:
Many reports of 2026 trip here
(Jan 6 - Feb 7)
Africa: 
The
Last Run)
2015: My trip to Tanzania, Malawi
Latin America:
2018-09-22:
My
60 min video interview with Radio99,
in Cantonese, is here: 01 02
to help stop people going to prison
(skillfully
managed by kind HK friends):
Photos
from my time in China 2001-20008
Table shows location of readers:
HK 33%; Australia 19%; UK 11%; US
12%; Canada 4% ; Tanzania 4%
Fr
John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡
頌 恆 神 父
jdwomi@gmail.com HK
mobile +852- 67095674
