This Sunday, we celebrated Harvest festival and the bountiful crops that we receive, which tied in with the Gospel reading of the celebratory party given for the lost or returning son. This parable is about two sons and their father. One who goes off and squanders all his money and comes back abject and sorry. The other who is a faithful and hardworking son who gets jealous of the other brothers return and the fathers joy. Jesus uses this to explain how it is with God. God is the loving, welcoming, rejoicing father to all of us. We only have to remain faithful or turn back to face him when we have wandered away. God is so full of joy - full of love for each of us - with ever open arms to welcome and enfold us.
