Much Ado

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, "Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?" And they took offense at him. 

But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house." And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith. (Matthew 13:54-58)

Okay, I’m confused.  Jesus said, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” Let’s get rid of the negative so it now reads: “A prophet is without honor except in his native place and in his own house.”  So, a prophet has honor in his native place and in his own house.  Let’s put back the negative “not.”  Therefore, the prophet does not have honor in his native place and in his own house.  Whew!  I finally get it.  I wish Jesus simply said, “A prophet doesn’t have honor in his native place and in his own house.  I’m making much ado about nothing I suppose.

“Much Ado About Nothing” is a play by Shakespeare.  Here is a summary.  "Benedick and Beatrice don't love each other but then they do. Claudio and Hero love each other but then they don't but then they do again. Everyone gets married. Count Claudio falls in love with Hero, the daughter of his host. Hero's cousin Beatrice (a confirmed spinster) and Benedict (an eternal bachelor) are each duped into believing the other is in love with them. Claudio is deceived by a malicious plot and denounces Hero as unchaste before they marry. She faints and is believed dead but recovers to be proved innocent by a chance discovery. Benedict wins Beatrice’s love defending her cousin’s honor, and to his surprise, Claudio is reunited with Hero, who he believed dead."

At times I think Matthew is Shakespearean.  He can be as obtuse as Shakespeare.  I guess I can be as well.

Adieu.

Deacon David Pierce