24th Sunday C 2007.

The story of the prodigal (wasteful) son presents us with three characters:
the younger, the prodigal son,
the elder son who has been a ‘good boy’ all his life
and the father who loves without reservations.
It is likely that we are able to recognise ourselves in one or more of these characters.
We may be the good child who lives his life without excesses but who is resentful of those who dare to brake boundaries.
Or we may be the child who is reckless and hard to control.
Whichever we are, we should be moving towards becoming like the father in the story who loves without taking offence or storing up grievances,
who is always ready to make allowances,
to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes.

Today is Home Mission Sunday and if you know somebody who has left the church tell them that they are welcome back at this church.
Tell them that we hope to see them here any time.
Tell them that they do not have to explain themselves.
They are welcome here.