My favourite church banner is ....This Man welcomes sinners,and eats with them.It was an accusation,but Jesus uses the complaint to show us the Face of God ,in the worlds greatest story...The Prodigal Son .The Father waits for the selfish ,runaway son,to return home.His heart overflows with joy.There is no check on his failings.The Father says lets celebrate ,take time off,for food ,song and dancing...Such is God.The other son resents the fuss.He was the faithful one who stayed at home,kept the rules,and there was no party for him.The Father compliments him too, for his steadfast loyalty.There is no mention of ‘mother’,in the story.I imagine the Father explaining to the hurt one , that his brother probably missed his mother so much...maybe she died young ...that he lost heart,,but now he is back home.The extravagance of God Love cannot be comprehended.Saint Julian of Norwich tells that there can be no anger in God .Love is His way,and our failings will be our glory in The Father’s embrace .To days Story is the whole of Christian theology,and indeed all religion ..God is Love.When love touches our hearts ,we want to warm others ,and our world ,with welcome.Mass can be a great heart warmer .

Liam Hickey, St.Ciarans, Hartstown, Dublin 15.