Imago Romans - 16:25-27 - Praise
Romans 16:25-27 - Final Doxology Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.
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One of the things that I have learned to always be looking out for in photography is the light - how light is shining, what it is shining through, the colors it is creating, the shapes that fall in the shadows, how much light is let into an image through the aperture, and so forth. Ultimately, what we experience with light is what it reveals. What is seen as the light shines forth. I took a picture a few years ago of a dandelion with the sun shining directly through the middle - I thought about that picture for this last part of Romans, but this last part feels more like a celebration and an ascription of praise, hence the colors with the light shining forth. This pic is from the giant Chihuli glass sculpture at the Indianapolis Childrens Museum. You can go below it and look up at it from below (as well as take lot of pictures). The shapes, colors, and the beauty that shows forth. I love how Paul concludes Romans here with the statement of the mystery finally being revealed leading to the final enthusiastic statement that all of this is to the glory of God. Romans was a much greater challenge than the other books that I have done through this project - theological discussions do not lend themselves to imagery as much as words and images of the Psalms and the stories of the Gospel of Mark. But it was a wonderful process of wrestling, kneading (as I wrote of a few weeks ago), and learning. I am thankful, as with Romans and Mark, to have wrestled with this letter.
What's next? Well, next Wednesday I am starting with the devotions based on Chris Seay's book, A Place At the Table: 40 Days of Solidarity with the Poor. Not sure how that will translate, but we will see. Between now and then, I may take a bit of a break or I may just offer up some pics that I take over the coming days. We'll see.