Imagining the Lectionary: Measuring faith in footsteps (Proper 17/Ordinary 22 A)
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Imagining the Lectionary: Measuring faith in footsteps (Proper 17/Ordinary 22 A)
Reflection accompanying images “Ground level depth of field and “Taking up the cross”
“You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:23-25)
The photograph of the path is taken at ground level which gives a depth of field of about one footstep. Everything else is out of focus. I think that this is the plane of focus that Jesus has in mind when, in a decisive moment of great clarity, he frames the nature of discipleship and produces a snapshot whose meaning is as timeless and strikingly obvious to us now as it was confusing and troubling to his first followers then..