Twenty-fourth Sunday of the Year, C – September 11, 2016.
Readings: Ex. 32:7-11, 13-14; Responsorial Psalm Ps 51:3-4, 12-13,17&19(R.cf.Luke15:18); 1 Tim 1-12-17; Gospel Lk 15:1-32.
Theme: The Scandal of Working for Reward and a Call to Repentance
Beloved in Christ, the parable of the prodigal son once again calls us to reflect on God’s mercy and forgiveness while soft-pedaling on working only for reward. Our reflections on this parable have customarily being surrounded around the sin of the younger son. Conversely, I would like us to look critically at the scandal of the eldest son. A survey of his attitude reveals the following:
1. Instead of going into to house to get first hand information about what was going on, he resorted to getting his news from the grapevine – a gossip that would later trigger anger in him.
2. For allowing what was supposed to be good news, the safe return of his kid brother, to become bad news, he became a victim.
3. His anger and refusal to go in was a huge scandal – a time-bomb waiting to explode.
4. This bad attitude interrupted the party in honour of his brother which made his father to come out of the house.
