Hush, Listen!

The time is surely coming, says the Lord God, when I will send a famine on the land; not a famine of bread, or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it.

Amos 8:1-12


Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."

Luke 10:38-42

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Martha and Mary

VELÁZQUEZ, Diego Rodriguez de Silva

Probably 1618

National Gallery, London

http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-fulldisplay.pl?SID=20100716253143310&code=ACT&RC=49140&Row=7

In the foreground a disgruntled young kitchen maid is at work behind a table while a kindly old woman calls her attention to the diminutive scene in the right background showing Christ admonishing Martha while Mary sits contentedly at his feet. After Martha complained to Christ that she was doing all the serving while her sister simply sat, Christ answered that Mary had chosen the better part, which would not be taken from her (Luke 10:38-42). This biblical incident has been cited as a justification of the contemplative life of a nun. It would appear, then, that the old woman is reminding the kitchen maid of the choice open to her if she fails to find contentment in the active role.

Significantly, art historians debate whether the tiny scene of the title is a wall painting, a mirror reflection, or an actual scene viewed through an aperture in the wall. This ambiguity is at the heart of Velázquez's intention to preach the timelessness of Christ's message. The painting also illustrates a constant in his art, whether the scene is a religious, genre, mythological, or historical one, or simply a portrait: his art requires thoughtful contemplation, which is rewarded with an insight into the profound, spiritual empathy the artist had for his theme or individual model.

http://www.answers.com/topic/diego-rodriguez-de-silva-y-velazquez

 

Hush, Listen!

 

If you spend more time asking appropriate questions

rather than giving answers or opinions,

your listening skills will increase.

~ Brian Koslow

 

The greatest compliment that was ever paid me

was when one asked me what I thought,

and attended to my answer.

~ Henry David Thoreau

 

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Emily and Jackie

Our church Book Club met at my home this month.

We had a really good turnout!

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At Rotary, we had a speaker from the Denver Art Museum

speak to us about the King Tutankhamen Exhibit.

To get us in the appropriate frame of mind, we had a mummy-wrapping contest.

<gr>

 

Bev and Jim Haney’s Annual Bluegrass Jam

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We helped shuttle vendors again this year at the Summerfest Arts Festival.

First, I wandered about and found an Evergreen artist new to me.

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From the Pond

By Shirley Olson

Painter and Sculptor

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Jen, Susan (Pogo’s mother), and Charlie Rae at Summerfest

 

Be a good listener.

Your ears will never get you in trouble.

~ Frank Tyger

 

July 18, 2010    Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Previous OPQs may be found at: 
http://www.dotjack.com/opq.htm

Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

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Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

Hush, Listen!

Amos 8:1-12

Psalm 52

Colossians 1:15-28

Luke 10:38-42