NBVM Novena Day 1: Peace with God
Our parish’s 91st celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary began on Friday, 4 September, with the flag-raising ceremony, the first day of the novena, Mass and fellowship.
Led by assistant parish priest Fr Bernard, the congregation gathered at the church entrance as the parish flag was blessed and raised by Fr David while everyone sang the Salve Regina. Also present was Fr Dominic, with all three priests concelebrating at Mass.
This year, the novena before Mass takes the form of Taizé prayer, with repeated chants, Scripture, reflection, intercessory prayers and periods of silence.
In his homily on Luke 5:33–39, Fr Bernard reflected on the Pharisees’ questioning of why Jesus’ disciples did not fast. Their question reveals a tension between religious observances and the newness of life that Jesus brings, inviting us to consider the meaning of our own rituals and practices.
Jesus responds with the familiar image of a wedding celebration—a biblical image of God’s Kingdom. Through it, He reveals a God of hospitality, who is always ready to love and welcome us.
This same hospitality is made present in the Eucharist, the ultimate wedding feast, where all are invited to sit at the table of friendship with Jesus. God does not wait for us to repent before welcoming us. He meets us where we are. It is when we truly experience His acceptance and encounter Him personally that repentance becomes our response—a profound moment of joyful transformation.
Our religious practices, therefore, cannot be ends in themselves. Whether attending Mass, praying, fasting or making sacrifices, their true meaning is found in our relationship with God and with one another.
Connecting this message with the day’s theme, “Peace with God,” Fr Bernard challenged us to extend to others the same hospitality that God generously extends to us. We are called to recognise the many hungers around us—not only for food and shelter, but also for affection, dignity, respect, justice and peace—and to respond to these hungers regardless of culture, language, nationality, race and religion that divide us.
When we live this hospitality, our prayers and sacrifices take on new meaning. Our lives become bread broken for those who suffer, bringing God’s love to the wounded and those who hunger and thirst for justice, dignity and peace. This is holiness: receiving God’s love and allowing that love to transform us so that our lives, in turn, nourish others.
As we celebrate our parish feast in honour of Mary, who opened herself completely to God and received the fullness of His grace, may we seek to emulate her. May we first open ourselves to receive God’s hospitality and, transformed by that encounter, carry His welcome, joy and peace to others. (KA)