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
Sun June 7
Corpus Christi
In a world which has so many problems .... when we often feel so weak and helpless ... it is good for us if we have the chance to spend some time in silent prayer before Jesus in the tabernacle of a church. No need to say much....just a word of praise ....quiet awareness of Jesus' presence....a reflection with Jesus on the day's Bible readings....a few prayers for special needs....a final prayer of thanks and praise. Yes, we can pray anywhere and at any time. But ten minutes spent before a tabernacle is one of the best things we can do for ourselves, our families, our nation, our world. May today's Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ give us the motivation to sometimes visit a church for prayer... and to receive Jesus' Body and Blood in Communion each Sunday if we can.
Ebola
-.report from OMI in Congo: Beware of media exaggeration
.
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ...and attack on Iran & Lebanon:
8. The Book of Nehemiah, in turn, opens at a time of great vulnerability in the history of ancient Israel. After the Babylonian exile, a portion of the people returned to Jerusalem, but the city was still in ruins, the walls collapsed and the gates burned (cf. Neh 1–2). Nehemiah, a Jew in the service of the Persian King Artaxerxes, received news of the disastrous state of his ancestral city. Before taking action, he fasted, prayed and interceded for the people. He then asked the king for permission to return to Jerusalem and, upon arriving, examined the destroyed areas in silence. He did not impose solutions from above. He convened the families, assigned each of them a section of the wall to rebuild, listened to their concerns, coordinated their efforts and addressed any opposition. The narrative shows how the city is reborn, not through the initiative of one man, but through the shared responsibility of all: men, women, priests, artisans, heads of households and young people all play a part. It is an undertaking with God at the center, which rebuilds relationships before rebuilding with stones. Thus, ancient Jerusalem rediscovers a common language — not one of uniformity, but one of communion, namely the harmony that arises when all persons assume their own role and recognize that their strength comes from the Lord.
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Corpus Christi
Deuteronomy
8: Moses
continued his speech to the people: "Remember how the Lord your God led you
for 40 years in the wilderness, to humble you, to test you, to know your inmost
heart - whether you would keep his commandments or not. He humbled you, he
fed you with manna, to make you understand that we do not live on bread
alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Learn from this that
the Lord your God was training you as a man trains his child. Keep the
commandments of the Lord your God. Follow his ways and reverence him. When you
become prosperous in the land that God is giving you, do not become proud and
say your own efforts have brought you success. Take care and do not forget the
Lord your God."
Dear Lord, don't let me ever forget all you have done for me
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
116: I love
the Lord for he has heard the cry of my appeal. He turned his ear to me in the
day when I called him. They surrounded me, sorrow, distress and the snares of
death. I was helpless, so the Lord saved me. Calm down my soul, for the Lord has
been good. I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.
How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me? The
cup of salvation I will raise to thank the Lord. O precious in the eyes
of the Lord is the death of his faithful. Lord, you have loosened my bonds. I am
your servant.
Thank you, Lord, for all your goodness to me
Recording
1
Corinthians 10.16 - 11.1: The
cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ. The bread that we
break is a communion with the body of Christ. Avoid anything to do with
idol worship. It doesn't make sense to share in the table of the Lord and
in the table of demons. Whatever you eat, whatever you drink, whatever you do at
all, do it for the glory of God. Never do anything offensive to anyone. Try to
be helpful to everyone at all times, not anxious for your own advantage, but for
the advantage of others, so that they may be saved. Take
me for your model, as I take Christ.
Jesus, please help me imitate you in my daily life
Recording
John
6.52-58: The
people said among themselves "How can this man give us his flesh to
eat?" Jesus replied "If you refuse to eat my flesh , and drink my
blood, you will not have life in you. Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my
blood has eternal life. For
my flesh is real food, and my blood is real drink. Anyone who eats my
flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I live in them. As I, who am sent by
the living Father, myself draw life from the Father, so whoever eats me will
draw life from me. This is the bread come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this
bread will live for ever".
Jesus, thank you for
the gift of your Body and Blood in Holy Communion
Recording
Reflection on the above readings:
Pope Francis: "The Eucharist is not a prize for the perfect, but medicine for the sick"
-------------------------------
After
3 losses, Brisbane win again
------------------------------
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 7th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Henan
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 7th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Burkina Faso
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
-----------------------
----------------------
Sat June 6
Most
distressing song about children in Gaza -
"You asked us to share"
Also distressing:
Children
in Ireland used for drug trafficking
Yesterday Jane from Voice
for Prisoners enrolled 121 prisoners (a
record!) for study correspondence courses at the Chinese University of HK,
with MercyHK donating HK$200,000 towards a total cost of HK$201,560
Pope's
AI letter
7. In
order to answer these questions and discern how to navigate responsibly the era
of AI, I would like to bring to mind two scenes from the Bible: the construction
of the Tower of Babel (cf. Gen 11:1-9) and the rebuilding of the walls
of Jerusalem (cf. Neh 2–6). The story of Babel appears in the
Book of Genesis, at the origins of humanity, immediately after the genealogies
of Noah’s sons. After settling in a plain in the land of Shinar, the people
decided to build a city and a tower “with its top in the heavens”
(Gen 11:4). Fearing being scattered across the earth, they sought to
guarantee stability and power for themselves, and above all to “make a name”
for themselves. It was an impressive feat: a single language, a single
technology, a single direction. However, the project concealed a profound
danger. It was a project conceived
without reference to God, supported by a uniformity that eliminated diversity
and that chose homogenization over communion. When a city is built on pride and
the claim to self-sufficiency, communication breaks down, languages are confused
and people no longer understand each other. The result is not unity, but
dispersion. Babel thus reveals the limits of any effort that, however
grandiose, arises from self-affirmation, sacrifices human dignity for efficiency
and aspires to reach heaven without God’s blessing.
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Exodus
19: The
Israelites kept traveling
and came to Mount Sinai (
Dear
God, please make us willing to hear your voice
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
49-50: I will turn my mind to a parable,
with the harp I will solve a problem. The problem is: why do bad people prosper and
succeed? The answer: at the end of their lives bad
people will have to face death and judgement, just like everyone else. When we are rich, we often lack wisdom.
Wealth blinds our minds and hearts. Let's not
forget God and his laws.
Let's try to be good and lead good lives
Lord, please help me understand
the meaning of life
Listen
Acts
3.1-10: One afternoon about 3pm, Peter and John
went to the Temple for prayer. A beggar asked them for money. He was
crippled from birth. Peter said to him "I don't have any
silver or gold. But I do have something to give you: in the name of Jesus
Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!" Peter then took him by the hand and helped him
to stand up. Immediately, his feet and ankles became firm and he could
walk.
He was so happy he started jumping around. He went into the Temple,
praising God
Jesus, there are so many crippled people in
the world. Please heal them
Listen
Luke
12.15-21: Jesus told the people this story: There was a
rich man who, having had a good harvest from his land, thought to himself
"What am I to do? I don't have enough room to store my
crops". Then he said to himself "This is what I will do: I will pull down my
barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain in them, and I will
say to my soul: My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many
years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, and have a good time". But God said to him "Fool! This very
night your earthly life will come to an end. And all your possessions, who
will get them?"
So it is when people store up treasure for themselves, instead of making themselves rich in the sight of God
Jesus, please help me to be satisfied with
what I have, and not to be greedy
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: "Wealth" mentioned in psalm and Acts
---------------------------
Today I walked to and from a music store in Tsim Sha Tsui
to buy a guitar for a prisoner ....and got back a few seconds before storm rain
came down from the heavens.
------------------------------
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 6th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Hainan
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 6th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Mali
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
Fri May 5
Yesterday morning I was at the Oblate Primary School in Tok Wa Wan for a sharing with 245 P5 & P6 students about the work of MercyHK ... finishing with a warning about the danger of dangerous drugs. Last night I attended the wedding ceremony of MercyHK staff members Raymond & Candy!
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ...and attack on Iran & Lebanon:
Three
Lebanese hospitals attacked by Israel in one week
6. For this reason it is necessary to begin a shared discernment process for identifying the spiritual and cultural roots of ongoing transformations. If we focus only on contingencies, we risk letting the succession of emergencies dictate the direction of our path. We are living through a rapid phase of transition, a “change of era,” in which — while some are vying for the future of new technologies and others dedicate themselves to reflecting on the matter — most people are watching and waiting, observing from afar and merely hoping for the best. For this very reason, crucial questions impose themselves on our conscience and can no longer be avoided: Where are we going? Toward what goal do we wish to orient ourselves? What direction should we choose as a people and as a human community?
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Exodus 18:
Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, heard about
all
that God had done for Moses and the Israelites,
so he visited Moses in the desert.
Jethro saw that Moses was struggling
to do so much administration by himself.
Jethro suggested that Moses appoint men to help him:
leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.
Moses accepted this advice
and appointed judges as Jethro suggested.
These judges handled all small issues
and referred only difficult cases to Moses.
Dear
God, please make us willing to share responsibilities with other people
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
47 & 48: All peoples, clap your hands, cry to God with
shouts of joy.
For the Lord, our Creator, we must love and honor,
great king over all the earth. Especially in his holy city is the Lord worthy
to be praised.
Praise is fitting in Mount Sion, our earth's most sacred site. O God, as we pray in your temple,
our hearts meditate on your love. May peoples and rulers everywhere
acknowledge and love you as Creator of the Universe
Let all the peoples praise you, Lord. Let all the peoples praise you
Listen
Acts
2.37-47:
The crowd was deeply moved by Peter's words,
and asked "What should we do?" Peter replied
"You must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then
you too will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit". That day about
3,000 people were baptized. These remained faithful to the teaching of the
apostles, to a life of sharing and
caring, to the Breaking of Bread, and to
prayer. Many miracles were worked by the apostles, and
this made a deep impression on everyone. Each day the Lord added new
members to their group
Jesus, please help me remain faithful to the
Christian way of life
Listen
Luke
11.37-54: Jesus said to the religious leaders "You
worry so much about cleaning dirty dishes, but don't care about
having a dirty heart full of extortion and wickedness.
At meetings and in the market, you like being
treated as people of importance. But in fact you are like unmarked tombs
that people walk on without knowing it. You expect ordinary people to observe
unreasonable laws, while you excuse yourselves from such laws. You don't care about obtaining real wisdom,
and you prevent others from obtaining wisdom". The leaders were stung by Jesus'
words, and they intensified their efforts to trap him in his speech
Jesus, help religious leaders be
sincere people
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: Good leaders ... good leaders ... good leader
-------------------------
Raymond and Candy are the second couple for whom MercyHK
has been the matchmaker!
-------------------------
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 5th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Guizhou
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 5th of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of South Sudan
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
----------------------------
Thu June 4
Yesterday
I was Pik Uk prison for men under 21, sad to meet more young guys who were
recruited to bring drugs to HK
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ...and attack on Iran & Lebanon:
Guardian
view on Trump and Lebanon (Editorial)
Pope's
AI letter ***
Leo
is the leader our world desperately needs (Guardian
writer)
5. It now falls to us to face the challenges of our time with clarity of thought and responsibility. It is necessary to establish adequate regulatory tools capable of upholding justice and curbing the distorting effects of technological power. Nevertheless, the issue is not limited to regulation. As Pope Francis warned, we must realistically ask ourselves who holds this power today and how they use it: “It must also be recognized that nuclear energy, biotechnology, information technology, knowledge of our own DNA, and many other abilities which we have acquired… have given those with the knowledge, and especially the economic resources to use them, an impressive dominance over the whole of humanity and the entire world.” [7] In the past, it was largely up to the State to guide and direct innovation. Today, however, the main drivers of development are private, often transnational, parties that are endowed with resources and the capacity to intervene that surpass those of many Governments. Technological power thus takes on an unprecedented, predominantly “private” aspect, which makes it even more challenging to discern, govern and direct such power toward the common good.
-------------------------
The Book Blog: 4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Exodus 17: In one place where there was no water
the people grumbled against Moses:
"Give us water to drink or else we will die."
Moses asked God for help
and God told Moses to strike a large rock with his staff.
When Moses did this, water flowed from the rock.
In another place the Israelites were attacked by the Amalekites.
Moses prayed while Joshua led the people in battle.
As long as Moses kept his arms raised up in prayer,
the Israelites were winning.
But when Moses let his arms down,
the Amalekites started winning.
So Aaron and Hur got Moses to sit on a rock
and they supported his hands until sunset.
Joshua and the people then won the battle.
Dear
God, please help us understand the power of prayer
01
02
Psalm 46: (c.f.
famous hymn by Martin Luther "A Mighty Fortress is our
God", and also the hymn "Be Still and Know that I am
God")
God is for us a refuge and strength,
in time of distress he is a helper close at hand. Therefore we shall not fear even though the
earth should rock,
even though the mountains fall into the sea. The Lord of hosts is with us.
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Come and consider the works of the Lord
and always remember his words: "Be still and know that I am God".
Lord, help us to be more aware
of your presence,
especially when we are in trouble
Recording
Acts 2.22-36: Peter said to the crowd "You know that
Jesus of Nazareth was a man from God. You know all about the miracles he
worked. This same Jesus has been raised from the dead
by God. There are many witnesses to his resurrection. Jesus has been taken up to God's right hand.
He has received the Holy Spirit from the Father. He has poured out the Holy
Spirit on us. Know for sure that Jesus whom you crucified is
the Messiah and he is Lord"
Jesus, Messiah
Lord, please pour your Holy Spirit into my heart
Listen
Luke 11.27-32: While Jesus was speaking, a woman in the
crowd called out
"Blessed the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you".
Jesus replied "Even more blessed are
those who hear the word of God and put it into practice!" Jesus also said "On Judgement day, the
Queen of the South will rise up with the people of this generation and
condemn them, because she came from a distant country to hear the wisdom
of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here"
Jesus, greater than Solomon, please help me
put your teaching into practice
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: If you ask Google AI "who was the wisest person in the history of the world?" .... AI says ... Solomon (...how dumb ...should be Jesus!)
---------------
One year ago at Pik Uk prison I met a young guy from Europe who
could not speak a word of English. Over the past year he has learnt English ....
and yesterday he was my translator for another new guy from Europe who cannot
speak a word of English!
--------------------
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 4th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 4th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Burundi
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the
week:
Jesus, today, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
----------------------------
Wed June 3
Today
is the feast of the
Ugandan martyrs. I had the privilege of visiting Namugongo in
Jan 2016 - photo ... (and
also in January 2024!). But this year the June 3 celebration at
the shrine has been cancelled because of the Ebola outbreak
Today
is the death anniversary of Hudson
Taylor who was known for his respect for Chinese
culture. He adopted the wearing of local Chinese clothing at a time when this
was extremely rare among missionaries
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ...and attack on Iran & Lebanon:
Israel
murders more people in Lebanon hours after Trump says fighting has stopped
4. While Leo XIII spoke in his time of “new things” ( rerum novarum), today we cannot limit ourselves simply to repeating his insightful teachings. Instead, we must ask God for the wisdom to interpret the great trends of our time, particularly technological advances. In recent years, it has become increasingly evident how rapidly and profoundly digitalization, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are transforming our world. Technology should not be considered, in itself, as a force antagonistic to humanity. On the contrary, it has formed part of our history since the beginning as “a profoundly human reality, linked to the autonomy and freedom of man.” [5] Over the centuries, technological development has significantly improved the living conditions of humanity. At the same time, each phase of progress has also revealed the ambiguity of tools that can cause harm when not oriented toward the good. Today, however, we find ourselves facing a new situation. The power and prevalence of emerging technologies are interwoven into the fabric of daily life, shaping decision-making processes and deeply affecting the collective imagination: “Never has humanity had such power over itself.” [6] New technologies open up a horizon extending in directions that are imaginable but not yet fully predictable. This complicates the assessment of their potential impact and the long-term effects they may have on both the dignity of individuals and the common good.
-----------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Exodus 16: As the
Israelites traveled through the desert
they began to complain about not having enough food.
So God rained down bread, manna, from heaven
in the form of a coating of dew
which appeared on the ground each morning,
as well as flocks of quails which came every evening.
For forty years the Israelites ate manna and quails,
bread and birds.
Dear
God, thank you for the food we have each day
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
42-45: Like a deer that longs for running streams,
so my soul is longing for you, my God. My soul is thirsting for you, the God of my
life.
I think of you all the time, here in my land of exile. People make fun of us here in exile.
They taunt us saying "Where is your God?" Yet no matter what happens we will hope in you,
for you are our saviour and our God. No
matter where we are or what happens to us,
our hearts will long for you, like a bride longing for her groom.
Lord, no matter what happens,
may I always hope in you
Listen
Acts
2.1-4: About ten days after Jesus' ascension to
heaven was the Feast of Pentecost. Jesus' 12 apostles, his mother,
several other women, and his brothers were together in one room. Suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind. Tongues of
fire appeared and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak
foreign languages
Come Holy Spirit, fall afresh on me. Fall
afresh on our world
Listen
Luke
11.9-13:
Jesus said to his disciples "Ask, and it will
be given to you. Search, and you will find.
Knock, and the door will open.
If children ask their parents for something
good, their parents will always give it to them. Even more so will the heavenly Father
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him
Heavenly Father, please give me your Holy
Spirit!
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Most Bible scholars now say that the Holy Spirit at Pentecost came down on the group of 120, not the group of 20 (who were part of the 120)
---------------------------
I was hoping to arrange a hike to Big Wave Bay near Sai
Kung on 19/6 (a public holiday). But the present extremely hot weather is making
me think maybe there's a need for a Plan B?
-------------------------
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 3rd
of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Gansu
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 3rd
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Chad
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
--------------------------------
-------------------------------
Tues June 2
Welcome to Gabriel, a student at Holy Spirit Seminary, from
yesterday helping MercyHK for the next 2 months as part of his pastoral
experience ... beginning yesterday with the usual Monday lunch gathering for
homeless people at the Dr Jesus Centre ....followed by a visit to a nearby
seniors home where MHK case worker Shirley Lee has helped many street sleepers
find accommodation.
3. In this spirit, Pope Leo XIII published his Encyclical Rerum Novarum in 1891, the 135 th anniversary of which we celebrate with deep gratitude this year. With that document, my beloved predecessor gave impetus to the reflection on society, the economy and politics, which is now known as the “Social Doctrine of the Church.” When some objected that the Church should not waste energy on worldly matters, but instead focus on communicating the message of eternal life, Leo XIII responded with realism and wisdom, saying that the proclamation of the Gospel cannot overlook the concrete lives of people. [4] Many decades have passed since then, and the Magisterium, pastors, theologians and faithful have continued to reflect on social issues in the light of the Gospel. Today, the Social Doctrine of the Church is a legacy of wisdom, where we find principles for thought, criteria for discernment and judgment, and concrete guidelines for action. Founded on Sacred Scripture and Tradition, and in engagement with the sciences, it helps us clearly interpret the challenges of the present and identify appropriate ways for living out a clear Christian witness, with joy and in service to the world. It is not an inert set of concepts, but a living corpus of truth that safeguards and interprets humanity’s vocation to a full and just life. I therefore wish to add my own voice to this living tradition, invoking the help of the Spirit of wisdom, who has dwelt in the world since its beginning (cf. Prov 8:22-31).
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ...and attack on Iran & Lebanon:
Dear God pls stop the Israeli-US evil madness taking place in Gaza, Lebanon, the
West Bank and Iran
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Exodus
15: The Israelites used this prayer to thank and
praise God:
"The Lord has covered himself in
glory,
horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my song,
he is my salvation.
This is my God, I praise him.
The Lord is his name.
Lord, when you blew over the waters,
they piled high on two sides.
Lord, only you are God,
there is no other.
Lord, you are our king for ever."
Dear
God, you are my strength and my salvation
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
41: Blessed the person who helps the poor and the
weak.
He himself will be helped by the Lord when he is sick and in trouble.
The Lord will help him on his bed of pain.
The Lord will bring him back from sickness to health.
Lord, please help me to do more
for the poor
Listen
Acts
1.15-26: During these days, Peter spoke to a group of about 120 disciples:
"As you know, Judas hanged himself after betraying Jesus. We must now
choose someone to take Judas' place, someone who has been with us since
the time when John was baptizing". Two men were nominated, Joseph and Matthias.
After prayer was offered, Matthias was chosen. He was listed as one of the
12 apostles
Jesus, please protect your church from
betrayal and disloyalty
Listen
Luke
10.38-42:
Jesus and his disciples visited the home of Martha and Mary. Mary sat at
Jesus' feet and listened to him speaking. Martha complained "Lord, do
you not care that my sister is not helping me with the serving?" But
the Lord answered "Martha, Martha, you worry and fret about so many
things. Mary has made a better choice"
Jesus, please bless my serving and my
listening!
Reflection
on the above readings: When
Matthias was not chosen in the original 12, he did not sulk and stop following
Jesus. When many people stopped following Jesus after he spoke about eating his
flesh, Matthias stayed loyal to Jesus. May the Lord give us loyalty like that of
Matthias!
------------------------------
Donald
Trump & what it's like being an 80 year old!
-------------------------------
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 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, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon June 1
Another young
Indonesian woman in prison in HK ... her South Asian BF a drug trafficker
June
- month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: Jesus'
promises to St. Margaret Mary in 1675
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ...and attack on Iran & Lebanon:
Last week I received this invitation from the US Consulate:
The Consul General of the United States of
America
requests the pleasure of your company
at a reception honoring
Two-hundred and Fifty Years of the Independence of
The United States of America
on Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Yesterday I sent this reply:
Dear Consul General
Each day I pray that the madman and his regime at the White House will be replaced by people who care about justice and peace - for the sake of the US and the whole world.
God bless the USA
------------
-------------
Pope's
AI letter ***
Apologies
not enough
2. Founded on Christ, the living stone, we experience the powerful and mysterious action of the Holy Spirit, and we believe that every authentic human effort to cooperate with him for the good will be blessed by our heavenly Father, in whom we place our hope. For this reason, we can diligently contribute to every initiative that builds a more just world, and we can call others to collaborate in promoting the integral development of every human being. We wish to engage in dialogue with all men and women of our time, with whom we share in the events, questions and aspirations of humanity. [2] Together with them, we seek to identify new paths for the common good and for promoting a dignified life for all. Indeed, openness to dialogue is an integral part of the Church’s vocation because, constituted in Christ as “a sacrament… of communion with God and of the unity of the entire human race,” [3] she recognizes history as the place where the Gospel challenges and directs human experience.
Balkans
contracts and Donald Trump
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Exodus
14: Not long after the Israelites left
Egypt
Pharaoh again changed his mind.
He decided to catch the Israelites
and make them return to
Dear
God, please rescue people in trouble, just as you rescued the Israelites when they were in trouble
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
40: I waited, I waited for the Lord and he
stooped down to me.
He heard my cry. He saved me from distress.
He put fresh hope into my heart. How many, O Lord my God, are the times you
have helped me.
They are too many for me to describe. My God, in the depth of my heart I delight in
your law.
You do not want external offerings.
You want my heart.
Lord, I offer you my heart, my
love. You deserve all my love
Listen
Acts
1.12-14: After Jesus went up to heaven from the Mount
of Olives, the apostles went back down to Jerusalem, a walk of about half
a kilometer. They gathered in an upstairs room which they used as
a meeting place. The 11 apostles were Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip,
Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon and Jude. They spent a long time praying. With them were
several women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and also Jesus'
brothers
Jesus, your apostles' group spent
special time in prayer preparing for the coming of the Holy Spirit. I now
ask them in heaven to pray that the Holy Spirit will increase his
influence in my life
Listen
Luke
10.29-37: The religious leader then asked another
question: "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied "A man on a journey was
attacked by robbers. They beat him, took all he had, and left him
seriously injured. A priest came by and saw the man, but did not help
him. A temple worker also saw him, but did not help. But a lowly foreigner
who saw him was moved with pity. The foreigner bandaged his wounds, and used
his own donkey to take the man to an inn. He paid the innkeeper to look
after the man. Which of the three was a neighbor to the
injured man?" The leader replied "The one who
helped him". Jesus then said "Go, and do the same"
Jesus, please don't let me ignore people who
need help
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: The leader who said "Who is my neighbour?" ... maybe he once "passed by on the other side" when someone needed help .... so that Jesus' words would have hit him like a tornado!
-------------------------
In
the new world of AI, "Old McDonald" has been updated ...not "E-I-E-I-O" but
"A-I-A-I-O"!
--------------------
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 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, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
-----------------------
----------------------
---------------------------
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
