Humorous Zajal – Someone Came to Me and Said He Missed Me
Pope Shenouda III humorously explains a beautiful rhetorical device in Arabic called “paronomasia,” illustrating it with a clever real-life example that reveals both his love for the language and his wit.
Spiritual and Educational Meaning:
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He explains that paronomasia means using a single word with multiple meanings in the same context, enriching the phrase with depth and playfulness.
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He shared a funny story of a worker who greeted him saying, “We missed you, Your Holiness,” and then asked for many favors. The Pope turned it into a linguistic joke: “He said he missed me, and the people missed him too,” using the word “missed” in different senses.
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Through this, the Pope shows his deep knowledge of Arabic, his humor, and his gift of teaching through joy.
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The story teaches that language is not just for communication but also a form of art and intelligence.
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It also highlights his humility and connection with people, teaching high linguistic beauty through simple, relatable moments.
Faith Message:
The Pope reminds us that wisdom can be taught with a smile, and true teaching combines joy and knowledge, making language a light for understanding rather than a burden.
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