The game is afoot! It’s elementary, my dear Watson! It is elementary – or at least, it should be! I’ve always been a big fan of Sherlock Holmes. I’ve enjoyed and continue to enjoy the various interpretations of the character that emerged from the depths of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s imagination. I have also enjoyed the various actors that have that have played the part of Sherlock Holmes over the years with one of my favorites being Jeremy Brett. And yes, of course, I too played Holmes long ago during one Halloween night of my youth. Trick or treat indeed, my dear Watson! There’s candy to be had! Also in my youth, I remember pleading with my parents to please take me to see The Seven-Percent-Solution when it came out in the theater. To my delight, they couldn’t turn down their young Sherlock enthusiast. Holmes’ “Science of Deduction” always fascinated me. Mr. Holmes would simply observe very keenly and then connect what he observed reaching a very logical conclusion – and solving a difficult case. Holmes may have called it the “Science of Deduction,” but I always knew it as “Common Sense.” I still do. In a more recent portrayal of the mythic figure in a series that I have been watching on television, I must admit that I am somewhat disappointed with the interpretation of the famous sleuth. Holmes, whose character might be said to be the Mr. Spock of the Nineteenth Century minus the alien blood, is portrayed as an atheist. There cannot be and are not any ghosts or spirits, he claims. This contradicts the facts observed and one can only conclude that the only “gods” are of man’s own making. God “exists” because we want Him to “exist.” I beg to differ Mr. Holmes. It’s all rather elementary. I’ve never taken Holmes to be a nihilist and my own interpretation of Holmes and his “Science of Deduction” would lead not only to a solution – but would lead to The Solution solving the most “difficult case” of all time! In my version of Sherlock, the famed sleuth with the deerstalker cap roams the environs of Jerusalem of old where within the walled city he occupies a small flat the address of which is 221B Baker Street. Out and about trying to solve a mystery of some water changed into wine, his investigations quickly lead him to one Jesus of Nazareth. The sleuth then conducts an interview. Observing keenly, he immediately deduces that this individual is no ordinary man and when this Man even more so keenly observes him in return revealing his heretofore known-to-none seven-per-cent solution along with an accurate recounting of his every case including several unrecorded, the world’s most famous detective is led to an utterly astounding conclusion. This is no ordinary man! Indeed, He is the very Son of God! Sherlock then falls to his knees and sheds uncharacteristic tears as he acknowledges his discovery. It is all so elementary, my dear Watson! The Solution to the Mystery awaits us! It is time for us and our world to employ Common Sense and the Science of Deduction once again in order to discover anew that which a First Century Semitic Sherlock Holmes most surely would and solving the most challenging case ever known – the Mystery of Life! Come now, Watson! The Game is afoot!
Peace!
Fr. Wilson