Too clever by half

This was one of my mother's favorite sayings.  I cannot be sure exactly how she meant it, but I always heard it with a bit of disdain - and my mother really wasn't one for disdain.

What it comes down to is this: it doesn't pay to be too clever - especially in the US where we insist we are egalitarian and no one is better than....well, me.    Somehow this has evolved into a lack of recognition of anyone's position of authority, whether earned or by title.  We don't like folks to appear to be too clever by half.

Apparently the folks in Nazareth didn't either.  Jesus taught and spoke with authority and that amazed them.  It was only when Jesus applied that authoritative teaching to them that their nose got a little bent.  Wasn't he just the carpenter's son?  Who does he think he is?

Well, the Son of God actually.  But they couldn't or didn't want to see it.  Perhaps their own cleverness got in their way.  I think recognizing that Jesus as Son of God speaks and teaches with authority - over our lives and for our benefit - is a good place to start in this relationship.