Maybe the mustard seed became a tree which was the largest of garden plants, so that birds could come and perch in its branches. Maybe the rock became a mountain that filled the whole earth.

The intention was not to change Roman or Jewish society (and why the Visigoths?). Something even more impressive than that was happening. The balloon which floated upwards and said: ‘Look at me!’ became a balloon that spread throughout societies and cultures as it spread throughout the world. It did this through being God’s alternative society, through being and proclaiming a Jesus who made that possible in the lives of each person who heard it.

The function of the priesthood was towards God and towards the people. We are that priesthood if we minister to both - to those who already believe and those who don’t believe. Our temple is now the whole world.

Yes I missed the point. All of life’s major advances and developments have come through people who missed the point. And now what am I going to do tomorrow to atone for my sin of omission? It can’t be a balloon. I could start by getting the early morning cup of tea. It could continue by a romantic evening out at the weekend - after all the 14 Feb hullabaloo has died down. Andrew - be my role model! Think of something!