18 September 2013
Wednesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
A few months ago, I received a very kind response to a letter of recommendation written for a former student who was applying for a job. My letter basically informed the potential employer that this person was intelligent and, most importantly, has a firm grasp of the obvious and can follow directions. She got the job and her employer complimented me on my perceiving and recommending a candidate with such rare qualities.
Today’s gospel talks about how the obvious is preached and it is frequently ignored. Many gospels stories take up this theme. For example, the story of missing the plank in your own eye, the rich man who fails to hear the poor at his door step, and then today’s gospel in which Jesus speaks of the preaching of John the Baptist and how many people failed to hear his message.
So often we are intrigued by silly predications, portents, and interpretations when in actuality the obvious is staring us in the face.