Distant Mountain

While at home getting out of breath if I move (due to a cold), I was looking at some old pictures of a wilderness retreat in May and I just wondered if this is still there; I know the top stone isn't, that is with me now and even if the cairn isn't there now, it was a great time of spiritual renewal. I lift up my eyes to the mountains –     where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord,     the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121

First sermon preached (ever)... Homily for November 3 rd 2013. 9am. St Mark Church, Cheltenham Luke 19: 1-10 May I speak in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen Some of you may be wondering who I am and possibly even, what is he doing standing there? A little like tax collectors at the time of Jesus. I suppose you could say that at I’m an outsider here.   I’m new to St Mark, or I certainly felt like I was an outsider eight weeks ago. So even though I was expected, it did feel a little like I was looking at a crowd from afar from the branches of a tree. So in some ways I can imagine a little of how Zaccheaus felt in our Gospel reading today. I can imagine that day in Jericho must have been hot and that crowds were jostling to see. Zaccheaus wanted to see Jesus so much he arrived early and climbed a tree. He knew it was on the route Jesus would be following into town. So, even though I can imagine a little of how he felt, I do hope that I’m not disliked