NBVM Novena DAY 10: NBVM & SCIC PARISHIONERS
On the final day of the Novena, 3 masses were held separately in Tamil, English and Mandarin. The main celebrant Rev Fr. Simon spoke about the parable of the Prodigal Son which is only found in the Gospel of Luke. Firstly, he spoke of honor and shame where the younger son had shamed his father by selling his property. Secondly, he had also shamed his father by neglecting his duty and responsibility to care for his father. Thirdly, the son seeks for his father’s property although his father is still alive. However, taking a closer look at the context, Fr enlightens on the conflicts that Luke addresses.
What is the right and correct attitude towards sinners? The Pharisees and the Scribes believed in segregation and scorned Jesus because He welcomed sinners. However, Jesus believed in associating and welcoming sinners. Further, Jesus believed that hospitality is the answer and not hostility.
Fr. Simon added that Luke is clear Jesus has come to seek out the company of sinners. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). That is the mission statement of Jesus and He has never wavered.
Fr. Simon elucidated that the father’s attitude in the Prodigal Son reflects the way Jesus deals with sinners. Jesus had two different audiences like the Pharisees and the sinners. The Pharisees had always considered themselves upright and without sin. Nevertheless, what use is it if we are sinless but loveless? What is the purpose of great religious fidelity but we are not prepared to reach out with love to our neighbour? We end up being enslaved by our religious intolerance.
On a concluding note, Fr. mentioned that we can reflect on the 3 characters in the Gospel i.e. the father, the elder son and the younger son as they represent us at times. Firstly, the generous father figure who accepts and embraces with forgiveness. Secondly, the younger son who runs away in hopes of finding new experiences but eventually gets lost in that process. Thirdly, the elder son who carries the weight of passive anger, feeling unappreciated, judgmental about people not living up to their standards and making others feel useless.
Essentially, the 2 questions we have to ask ourselves today is, which character will I be today, tomorrow and the day after? And who is missing in our parish today that I may have caused to run away?
