“For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place; and to them he said, `You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, `Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, `Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, `You go into the vineyard too.’ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, `Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius.
[11] And on receiving it they grumbled at the householder, saying, `These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, `Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last.”
So she set out from the place where she was, with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. But Na’omi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The LORD grant that you may find a home, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” But Na’omi said, “Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the LORD has gone forth against me.” Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God; where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if even death parts me from you.” And when Na’omi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. — Ruth 1:7-18
On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, opposite the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne inside the palace opposite the entrance to the palace; and when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she found favor in his sight and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. — Esther 5:1-2
From the NY Times: ‘Father of Pop Art’ Richard Hamilton Dies at 89
LONDON (Reuters) – British artist Richard Hamilton, regarded by many as the father of pop art, died on Tuesday. He was 89.
“This is a very sad day for all of us and our thoughts are with Richard’s family, particularly his wife Rita and his son Rod,” art dealer and gallery owner Larry Gagosian said.
A statement from the gallery called Hamilton the “father of pop art” and a “pioneering artist of unparalleled skill, invention and lasting authority.
“His influence on subsequent generations of artists continues to be immeasurable.”
Nicholas Serota, director of London’s Tate gallery, added: “Greatly admired by his peers, including (Andy) Warhol and (Joseph) Beuys, Hamilton produced a series of exquisite paintings, drawings, prints and multiples dealing with themes of glamour, consumption, commodity and popular culture.”
Despite his age, Hamilton had been working until just a few days ago on a major museum retrospective of his work scheduled to travel to Los Angeles, Philadelphia, London and Madrid in 2013/14.
Gagosian did not say how Hamilton died or where, although he was in Britain.
Hamilton’s best known work was his 1956 collage “Just what is it that makes today’s homes so different, so appealing?,” considered by some historians to mark the birth of the pop art movement.
Hamilton is also credited with coining the phrase “pop art” itself, in a note to some architects who were considering putting on an exhibition with him along similar lines to the 1956 “This Is Tomorrow” show.
In words dating from 1957 that are seen as prescient of the likes of Warhol and, more recently, Damien Hirst, he wrote:
“Pop art is popular (designed for a mass audience), transient (short term solution), expendable (easily forgotten), low cost, mass produced, young (aimed at youth), witty, sexy, gimmicky, glamorous, big business.”
Hamilton is often associated with the swinging 60s, including for his painting of Mick Jagger and art dealer Robert Fraser in handcuffs following a drugs raid.
He also designed the sleeve of the Beatles’ “White Album,” consisting of a plain white sleeve with the band’s name embossed on it.
Hamilton is remembered for his modesty and sense of humor as well as his artistic talent.
Asked about people’s perception of “Just what is it that makes today’s homes so different, so appealing?,” he said in a recent newspaper interview: “I’m rather bored with it but it’s a nice little earner!”
From the BBC: In Pictures: Degas and the Ballet
The Royal Academy of Arts in London opens a new exhibition featuring the work of Edgar Degas at the weekend. It focuses on Degas’ fascination with ballet. The exhibition will feature about 85 paintings, sculptures, pastels, drawings, prints and photographs by the renowned French impressionist and sculptor. Born in Paris in 1834, more than half of [Degas’] life’s work depicts dancers.
Almighty God, by Whom our fathers won their liberties of old; grant that we and all people of this land may be strong to maintain our freedom against the assaults of those who by aggression seek to enslave us to their will. Guide, we beseech Thee, our President and all to whom has been committed the government of this nation, giving them special gifts of wisdom and understanding, that in defense of our liberties they may be instruments of lasting peace for all mankind. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. — A Prayer for the Nation from A Book of Devotions and Prayers According to the Use of the Polish National Catholic Church.