A Steady Hand (Artful Devotion)

(Update: I found out from the artist that she intended this image to represent not the sinking of Peter but the redemption of Judas, who, like Peter, had a slip of faith, so to speak. Very unique!)

Matthew 14:29b–33 (The Voice):

Peter stepped out of the boat onto the water and began walking toward Jesus. But when he remembered how strong the wind was, his courage caught in his throat and he began to sink.

Peter: Master, save me!

Immediately Jesus reached for Peter and caught him.

Jesus: O you of little faith. Why did you doubt and dance back and forth between following Me and heeding fear?

Then Jesus and Peter climbed in the boat together, and the wind became still. And the disciples worshiped Him.

Poem by Arthur Hugh Clough (1819–1861):

It fortifies my soul to know
That, though I perish, Truth is so:
That, howsoe’er I stray and range,
Whate’er I do, Thou dost not change.
I steadier step when I recall
That, if I slip, Thou dost not fall.

+++

SONG: “Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand” | Words by Jennie Wilson (1857–1913) | Music by Franklin Lycurgus Eiland (1860–1909) | Performed by Angela Primm, on A Little Bit of Heaven (2007)

This post belongs to the weekly series Artful Devotion. If you can’t view the music player in your email or RSS reader, try opening the post in your browser.

To view all the Revised Common Lectionary scripture readings for Proper 14, cycle A, click here.