"HUMOR AND JOY" SERIES, PART III

"JOY, HUMOR AND LAUGHTER"

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine…” or

“A joyful heart is the health of the body…”

Prov. 17:22

In our “POSTSCRIPT” from the last blog, we promised some more jokes. But we also want to explore “gladness” that runs deeper than occasional “humor” in the form of wisdom concerning true and abiding “joy”. We also will explore some of the overlap in the meanings of “happiness”, “laughter” and “joy”. And we will examine the heart—the sources, ways and means—of biblical joy. Since this blog touches on many things, it is longer than usual.

(We will get back to much of the lighter humor in the next two blogs. Promise. “Relationships” and “Aging” are unavoidable… can be a blessing in many ways… but they give us plenty to laugh about… )

FROM HUMOR TO JOY—WITH A SERIOUS “DIP” IN BETWEEN

Right off, we will jump in and take a further look at “joy”—which we touched on previously— even in the midst of the toughest of circumstances. One might say that we are looking at “gladness” on several levels—both deeper and more sustainable, and the more periodic and superficial. We have the quick laugh that hits and passes quickly, and we have the most unfathomable depths of true, abiding joy—even the joy that runs deep. And—like it or not—when life gets rough, challenging and/or heavy, it helps to have any kind of a lift! (I, for one, will take the entire extent of possibilities!)

We’re shifting gears here for a bit… and getting quite serious. We’ll start at the far end of the spectrum… in the “worst” of circumstances… with the most unspeakably dreadful avalanche of vile happenings any human being has experienced… with what Jesus faced. We’ll examine His joy, and then look at some of our own options.

FOCUS MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Philippians 4:8 declares: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any” [yes, any at all…even a smidgen] “excellence, and if there is anything” [yes, anything at all] “worthy of praise, think on” [focus on] “these things”. [Phil. 4:8] 

Our focus really does make a difference. I believe there is great wisdom in this statement: “if there anything worthy of praise, think about these things…” Where we look and what we choose to dwell upon does make a difference in our perspective; our mood; our motivation; our attitude; and our plan of action (or inaction, if “waiting” and “resting in the Lord” is appropriate). A quick test of this is to simply take a few moments… and focus on the polar opposites…(i.e., what is untrue, dishonorable, unjust, impure, ugly, ungracious, vile, atrocious,etc.) See what results…

In Philippians, we are also asked to “Rejoice!” … “Rejoice in the Lord always.” [Phil. 4:4] Even when we can find little to feel happy about at any given time, we can find reason to rejoice in Him because of the steadfastness of Who He is—that never changes from everything “good”, both known and unknown, revealed and unrevealed, imagined and unimaginable, experienced or not.

In verses 6 and 7, God encourages us to cover our anxieties and requests—and everything else—with prayer, petition, and thanksgiving. Then, when we do that, we can discover God’s very own gift of “peace… that surpasses all understanding” [In other words, we can’t comprehend how we could have peace amid ‘this particular’ situation or experience, but, amazingly, we find it… He gives it to us.] It’s a comfort to know that He wants to give it: peace… tranquility/ harmony/ security/ mutual accord among His children on earth… and… especially a calm, anxiety-free ability to relate to God, Himself.

Internal peace—deriving from a trust in God and His steady, unwavering care— I believe, is one of the foundations of sustained joy. The fruit of “joy” goes beyond surface emotions (which are fleeting) and often has something to do with some other sustained attitudes, choices and perspectives. It includes the capacity to be grateful, give love, and appreciate goodness and beauty when, by “feeling” or “appearances” alone, what’s good or lovely would seem to be—at certain times—in short supply. 

I believe part of what sustained joy encompasses is an openness to good things (“above” or around us)—even when we are not actually feeling “good”… (That gets us back to focusing on even the “smidgens”…) Joy has something to do with the capacity to en-joy… Again, to appreciate things, whether they be tangible or intangible, things or people, concepts or colors, God’s beauty in nature or some human creative endeavor… The list goes on...

JOY AT THE THOUGHT OF BLOOD-BOUGHT BLESSINGS

“For the sake of the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross.”

This scripture—a simple little statement—says so, so much concerning Jesus in regard to his own perspective regarding the worst time in His earthly life: “For the sake…” [Hebr. 12:2]. I believe that literal volumes could be written on that one verse—and all the foundations of truth that lie behind it.

The joy that was the motivator to endure the cross was connected, basically, to us… and concerned us.Jesus knew Himself as the Savior… the Way… the Life… the gate (the sheep gate)… the door that would open everlasting life and countless blessings to “whomsoever” would believe and “enter through the narrow gate”.

JOY—BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER?

We are not exactly sure at what point in time He had that deep, decisive joy… whether it was before his physical agony (but still during much spiritual, mental, and emotional anguish)— during the extended time period of knowing what lay ahead, and still “set[ting] his face like flint” [Isa. 50:5-7]… or actually during the time covering the Last Supper, His Passion and His death… or all of the above mentioned times?

We presented the concept of “focus”. What about Jesus? Did He allow Himself to remove His attention from the pain screaming from every nerve in His body, so that He could “focus”on the (“true …honorable… just… pure… lovely… gracious… excellent… worthy of praise”) “joy” that “was set before Him”? What could cause such joy in the midst of (or at the anticipation of) the all-time epitome of the opposite of “happy experiences”? Was it that he could imagine those who would come to—and through—Him to salvation and eternal life… knowing far more than we do exactly what that meant to have or to miss, forever?

There are several things that Jesus could have thought… He could know—as a joyous thought—that because He was willing to endure the horrors of suffering that should have been ours—He could not only spare us (paying a price we could not possibly pay as sinners), but He could do what only He could do. He knew that only He could be the sacrifice-price—as perfect holiness Personified… Son of God. He could then (prefer to) think of all the benefits to and for us with joy, rather than focus on (although not ignoring) the sure knowledge of the excruciating ordeal that He would, and did, endure.

The immense motivation that He found could only be explained by a love that is astronomical, unspeakable, and far beyond our ability to comprehend. Because of His totally selfless love for us He was able to focus on the fact (by faith!!... as a human being subject to temptations to fear/doubt/failure/self-will etc.) of some soon-coming-future realities. And, by faith, He considered them as “real” and good and true, though as yet, unseen. 

He knew that after His brutal torture and death, there would be so much (and so many) to rejoice over: our cleansing from sin and resultant new life; the availability of forgiveness, grace, power from on high, healing, deliverance—and every blood-bought blessing that anyone would ever receive… for millions of lifetimes, and for the duration of eternity itself.

This God of love—Who IS “Love”—allowed His love to carry Him… to be the reason, the driving force, and the primary influence (amidst all the torturous fleshly reasons to quit or count us “not worth the price”) to endure the unendurable. What level of love (at the thought of, or the immediate experience of, such agonizing suffering) must someone have/ possess/ abide in… to even consider “joy” as an option amidst such potential or very present and cruel torment?

I would like to offer an exceedingly poor example of a response that Jesus could have given—at any point in His life!—instead of walking every last step in His life-giving journey. I was once elected Vice President of an organization that involved parents, education, and children. Officers were in their positions for about a month when some very serious, complex, and long-term problems arose. Immediately the President said, “I am quitting. I didn’t bargain for this.” 

Continually I call that situation to mind and realize just how much Jesus must have been tempted to say and do the same thing. Agreeing to something is one thing; experiencing and feeling the full impact is another. He, Himself, asked, if possible, that the cup (of suffering) be passed from Him… and said that He could have called for 1000 angels… But He stayed the course—for us. 

SELF-SACRIFICING LOVE VS. HAPPINESS

That very real love—so broad, so deep, so enduring (literally, self-sacrificing)—helps produce a level of joy as a mind-set and a heart-set that goes far below the surface circumstances of life. This kind of joy is almost the polar opposite of circumstantial “happiness”. Its source of gladness runs deeper than momentary pleasure or satisfaction or fun. What happens when those more pleasant things are not so available? For some, those things are their purpose for living. But what happens when we find them in short supply, for some reason—for longer than we had hoped, or even for a brief period of time? How do we cope? What helps us to function??

“Sometimes we are tempted to find excuses and complain, acting as if we could only be happy if a thousand conditions were met. To some extent this is because our ‘technological society has succeeded in multiplying occasions of pleasure, yet has found it very difficult to engender joy.’ “1

HOW CAN THERE BE JOY IN ALL THIS?

“The joy of the Lord is my strength.” We all know that there are times when we feel so overcome with pain or grief that we may not feel at all like laughing—and perhaps do not even want to hear about “joy”. Although it runs counter to some lines of reasoning, the truth is: Pain, suffering, trouble and distress make us weak in ways that we cannot fully control. It is a true blessing to find a source of strength at those times. Joy—and rejoicing in, and because of, the Lord—is a source of real strength. Thinking about Who He is and wants to be for us… remembering what He has done in the past (in history, in others’ lives, and in our own lives, for those who have allowed Him access as Lord to their lives)… looking at the truth-promises of His word, and gaining confidence and hope from them… These things can give us cause for joy and rejoicing in Him.

And we don't have to be perfect saints to experience God's joy!

“The bishop of New Orleans regularly said Mass for a small community of cloistered nuns. Every time he arrived, the portress would greet him and the bishop would ask her to pray for the Saints, his favorite football team.

And every time, she made the same reply with the sweetest smile.

“I do, Bishop,” she would say, “but I’m not sure they need it anymore.”2

Some of the most noticeable examples of joy in life are found in those who are "hardest hit". Joy comes either as a sought-received-gift-grace from God or as a gift-fruit of the Holy Spirit (developed by the Lord’s presence and rule over our lives). Maybe it's the grace that becomes more obvious amidst the contrast of horrendous circumstances. Perhaps it’s the gladness of one experiencing a peaceful joy in the midst of a time when peace—much less, joy— seems impossible to find. Maybe it’s the fact that, when what’s circumstantial or superficial fails to satisfy (or the situation, itself, brings pain on some level) we find some people seeking and looking more earnestly for something that lasts… something more satisfying…something deeper than the surface feelings and experiences.

PROCESS AND JOURNEY

Any and all persons who ask and seek the Lord for joy can find the grace available. As in some other things, I believe that there is a “line” to cross that is like an airplane breaking the sound barrier… or any other kind of “breaking through”. What I mean by this is: We rarely move suddenly from the place of intense pain and/or mental and emotional anguish—as if one would flip on a light switch. But—walking by the power of the Spirit through the process/journey (in part, described in some ways above, but always different in varying circumstances, differing individuals, and in regard to types and degrees of pain, etc.). When God leads or carries us, we get through the “jungle” in ways we could never do alone.

God has always been in the habit of giving grace and gifts. The above verse says, “The joy of the Lord is my strength”. Although His giving is in His very nature as “Love”, Itself, we still need to turn toward Him—in honesty, in seeking, in asking for help. I believe that the Lord shares His joy. It says that the joy is “of” Him. That joy did not come easily to Him… nor does it come easily to us. (We would like to hear otherwise!)

Yes, angels ministered at the Garden of Gethsemane. He had the presence of the Holy Spirit (Who had been manifested at His baptism in the River Jordan). It is clear, however, that He lost the emotional feeling of connection with the Father as He cried out, “My God, My God—Why have You forsaken Me?” Circumstantially, dramatically and demonstratively, Jesus could easily feel abandoned—deserted—by the Father God Who was the only One on Whom He could depend… yet He chose to still trust and obey the Father (through physical, mental and emotional horrors) while there were no signs of His presence, and no “feelings” of the comfort or encouragement of the Holy Spirit. This Jesus, Who was and IS God, did not cease to be God as He suffered so much.

And yes--to those who know that it was a Psalm that Jesus was quoting when He cried out to the Father--Jesus was also affirming all that was in that emotionally real and expressive, but also faith-and-hope-filled psalm. 

The word of God is true when it says that Jesus was tempted in every way (known to man) but did not sin. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.” [Hebr. 4:15] 

By being God, He did not cease to remain fully human. It is impossible to know the extent—far beyond even just the physical, physiological torments that Jesus went through—of mental and emotional suffering,temptations and all manner of demonic attacks against his mind, his emotions, his spirit as He felt the shame and pain with every nerve cell in excruciating agony. Yet, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” [Jn.15:14]

LOVE PAID THE PRICE

It has been said by many (others, at other times) that the justice of the Father could not be in the very presence of the [large load of] sin that Jesus carried. 

Holiness and sin could not co-exist. 

Yet they did…

in the Being of the One Who became “in the likeness of sinful flesh” that we might receive His righteousness…His “right standing” with the Father. “For what the law, weakened by the flesh, was powerless to do, this God has done: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for the sake of sin, he condemned sin in the flesh…” [Rom. 8:3]

LOVE IS WHY HE CAME—THE WAY. THE GATE. THE DOOR…

This One—God, Himself—was sent to earth to save and deliver after we had rejected every other one—the prophets—that God sent to bring truth or light. He made His grand entrance into our fallen presence by being born in a stable (crowded, smelly, unclean). As God, with myriads of choices in time and place to make His presence known on earth, it was no accident on His part to choose to come into such unpleasant circumstances (cold; his birth unattended by loving relatives or familiar faces; noisy; lacking privacy, etc.). 

I believe that part of the purpose for those choices was to “announce”, so to speak, to our secular and religious worlds (and all our secular and religious systems) that this God of Love was and is willing to come into our messes… into our “uncomfortable” places in life. He is willing to endure and deliver/ redeem/ restore our broken ways. It’s why He came. Love is why He came.

Jesus truly became the “gate”… the “door”… the “Way” between two unmixable entities. An open portal was made—by the perfectly holy and righteous One, Who “became sin” for our sake, without actually sinning, or doing anything but loving! And a “flood” was released through a portal torn (as surely as His own Body was ripped and torn), allowing heavenly graces and power, healing and restoration to be unleashed into every fallen and broken person and place on earth that would choose to receive Him and all that He offers us.

CONCLUSION

The conclusion? Dare we come up with a “conclusion”? Simply put: (although there is rarely anything simple about pain and trouble…) The joy of the Lord is quite possible—or rather, one of those “natural” improbabilities/ impossibilities made possible by the action of the Holy Spirit and grace. It is as possible as any other gift or fruit of the (Holy) Spirit—that joy that runs deep.

As we walk it all through, it’s likely that it will not come as soon as we would like. (But God’s “slow” does not mean “no”, thank heavens!). So much in the Lord’s realm is not "instant", as so many of us "modern" Christians have been culturally formed to expect. We know this: we tend to want things “big” and “now”.

That reminds me of a very old [primary school] joke. As much as I like humor, I have always had trouble remembering jokes. But this one is short and easy.

It tells of the directions on Campbell’s Cream of Elephant soup (no longer available in stores. There were too many disturbing accidents, so we heard… :)

Directions, simply put: “Pour in a pan, add milk, 

heat… and R-U-N !!…”

PURSUE JOY

Pursuing joy, hopefully, is still desirable—for Jesus said it is as we seek that we will find. Again, connected to all this is news that we “moderns” may not see as so desirably good. It is this fact: Deep, abiding joy usually comes at a price... that price being surrender to (then rejoicing in) the Lord and His ways. On the human, emotional, desire-physical-tangible level, we can’t do it by ourselves. And that often means: surrender to the cross... and a willingness to wait... for "Resurrection" ... on His timetable. (Again, volumes could and have been written on this paragraph alone.) 

Our flesh wants to say: “None of that is good news!” Impatience and all that we want right now can’t possibly see this as “good news”. But with some patience, we can look forward to the Resurrection aspects connected to the difficulties (and even know that some of our pain is specifically used by the Lord as a “ransom” for the benefit of others.) Also, combined with Jesus’ prayer “that His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven”… we can hope and believe in some aspects of resurrection life down here on earth—in His ways and in His time.

It was in a situation very similar to this that Jesus asked his disciples (as some of the listeners were turning away), "Will you also leave?"

It is easy—in this free-thinking and often a free-wheeling society that we live in—to stay “stuck” on our own ways of seeing, wanting and doing things.

“Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors.”3

BUT…

“Forbidden fruit creates many different kinds of jams.”4

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED

Robert Frost spoke some true and applicable wisdom in the following words so many of us have heard before (from “The Road Less Traveled”).

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could…

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

…I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Jesus agrees. “…The gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction… Narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.” [Mt 7:13,14]

OUR DYING AND RISING

“In this world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” [Jn. 16:33]

We live in a fast-paced, I-can-do-anything (good, “bad”, or indifferent) culture. We are quite accustomed to independent thinking and self-reliant living, and often self-motivated and self-focused buying/ recreating/ doing/ deciding/ choosing… At least, that seems to be the expected pattern in many arenas of life—and the prevailing assumption in our media, news and reporting. The “realities” we see on TV and in magazines... and many or most books and blogs… are so far (in attitudes, practices, assumptions, priorities, etc.) from what we hear the Lord whisper to our hearts, and what we see and hear in scripture.

So-o-o-o… The “good news” becomes, on an experiential level, “less-than-‘good’ ” news. It becomes downright difficult to hear. We feel like saying, “C’mon, God… Are You kidding??! There must be a better—or easier—way to find ‘joy’! Say it isn’t so!”

LET’S LOOK AT PAUL’S WRITING

“I have been crucified with Christ, yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me…” [Gal. 2:20]

“If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him…” [Rom. 6:8]

“…I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things… that I may gain Christ and be found in him… to know him and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” [Phil. 3:8, 10, 11]

“For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection… If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him… he lives for God.” [Rom 6:5, 8, 9, 10b]

“God takes the initiative… ‘he has loved us first’ [1 Jn. 4:19]… he alone ‘gives the growth’ [1 Cor. 3:7]. This conviction enables us to maintain a spirit of joy in the midst of a task so demanding and challenging that it engages our entire life. God asks everything of us, yet at the same time he offers everything to us.” [blogger’s bold italics] 5

THE DEGREE OF YOUR PAIN

When someone does have the joy of the Lord, some others—even many others—may never know the degree or depth of his/her pain or sorrow. The world is accustomed to looking at outward behaviors and may assume that the joy exhibited is simply circumstantial happiness. Others may wonder where or what it is. (But the Lord knows!)

It’s not that the pain has gone away (although some of it or all of it may, at rare times, thank God!). Rather, the pain is more enveloped by and companioned by the Lord’s miracle and grace of joy. This “joy companion” overshadows the sorrow (or pain, or trouble, or depression, or the waiting, or grief, or loss etc.), as a mature shade tree would cover us and minimize the effects of the glaring sun and stifling heat on a sizzling hot day. (This reminds me of the Lord’s covering wings in Ps. 91.)

FINALLY FINDING JOY… OR… RECEIVING HIS JOY

Living joy in the midst of undesirable situations is not magic. As was mentioned before, it’s not like flipping a switch and it’s there forever. But it is REAL. It will be tested at times. But it can be chosen again and again. We open the door when we choose to look where the Lord shows us to focus: on the “good”; on His call; on His grace and beauty, goodness and majesty; His plans and purposes; on all that gives us that stirs gratitude in us… Sometimes—if fact, many, many times—we need to stop and ask Him to touch our hearts and open our dulled and blinded eyes to see and appreciate the innumerable things that we never thank Him for.

Real joy is true and deeply joyous joy, the kind that is more unshakable than what we are accustomed to, naturally, in life… much like “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding …” [Phil. 4:7] The Lord loves when we seek passionately after Him and the gifts that He wants to give us.

THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL  the Apostolic Exhortation by Pope Francis 

“There are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter. I realize of course that joy is not expressed the same way at all times in life, especially at moments of great difficulty. Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures, even as a flicker of light born of our personal certainty that, when everything is said and done, we are infinitely loved. I understand the grief of people who have to endure great suffering, yet slowly but surely we all have to let the joy of faith slowly revive as a quiet yet firm trust, even amid the greatest distress.

‘My soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is… But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness… It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord’ [Lam. 3:17, 21-23,26] ” 6

In the Apostolic Exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel,Pope Francis expressed the joyous and contagious attitude from which the “good news” was to be spread throughout the earth. He had thoughts about the need for this, about how this could be carried out, and some affirming reflections on “joy”, itself…

“… [T]hese instances of joy flow from the infinite love of God, who has revealed himself to us in Jesus Christ… Thanks solely to this encounter—or renewed encounter—with God’s love, which blossoms into an enriching friendship, we are liberated from the narrowness of self-absorption … For if we have received the love which restores meaning to our lives, how can we fail to share that love with others? “ 7

“The disciples never forgot the moment when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.’ (Jn 1:39)” 8

“[E]vangelization is first…preaching the Gospel to those who do not know Jesus Christ or who have always rejected him. Many of them are quietly seeking God, led by a yearning to see his face… It is not by proselytizing that the Church grows, but ‘by attraction’… Instead of seeming to impose new obligations, they should appear as people who wish to share their joy, who point to a horizon of beauty, and who invite others to a delicious banquet.” 9

“ ‘No one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord. ‘ …No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her… The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk: whenever we take a step toward Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms… No one can strip us of the dignity bestowed upon us by this boundless and unfailing love. With a tenderness which never disappoints, but is always capable of restoring our joy, he makes it possible for us to lift up our heads and to start anew. Let us not flee from the resurrection of Jesus, let us never give up, come what will… [H]is life… impels us onward!” 10

Pope Francis presents many scriptures concerning “joy”. “ ‘Shout aloud and sing for joy!’ [Isa. 12:6]… ‘Get you up to a high mountain, O herald of good tidings to Zion; lift up your voice with strength… ‘ [Isa. 40:9]. ‘Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth! …For the Lord has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his suffering ones.’ [Isa. 49:13]. ‘Rejoice greatly…! Shout aloud…! Lo, your king come to you; triumphant and victorious is he.’ [Zech. 9:9] ‘The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives you the victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing, as on a day of festival.’ [Zeph. 3:17]” 11

“The Gospel, radiant with the glory of Christ’s cross, constantly invites us to rejoice… ‘Rejoice!’ is the angel’s greeting to Mary. [Lk. 1:28]. Mary’s visit to Elizabeth makes John leap for joy in his mother’s womb [cf.Lk 1:41]… Mary proclaims: ‘My spirit rejoices in God my Savior’ [Lk.1:47]. When Jesus begins his ministry, John cries out: ‘For this reason, my joy has been fulfilled’ [Jn. 3:29]. Jesus himself ‘rejoiced in the Holy Spirit’ [Lk. 10:21]… [and] brings us joy: ‘I have said these things to you, so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete’ [Jn. 15:11]. Our Christian joy drinks of the wellspring of his brimming heart… ‘You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy’ [Jn. 16:20]… ‘But I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you’ [Jn. 16:22].The disciples ‘rejoiced’ [Jn. 20:20] at the sight of the risen Christ… [T]he first Christians ‘ate their food with glad and generous hearts’ [Acts 2:46]. Wherever the disciples went, ‘there was great joy’ [Acts 8:8]; even amid persecution they continued to be ‘filled with joy’ [Acts 13:52]… Why should we not also enter into this great stream of joy?” 12

A LIGHT BREAK...

Let’s take another—more light-hearted—scripture break. As many know, scripture actually is a mighty weapon [the “sword of the Spirit… the word of God”] in our arsenal against evil…

“A laywoman who was taking a Scripture course discovered a burglar in her kitchen. Since she had no weapon to scare him off, she raised her hand and shouted, ‘Acts 2:38.’

The burglar froze… so the woman called 911. The police arrived and were amazed to find the burglar still frozen where he stood.

‘What did you say to him?’ they asked her.

She replied that she had just quoted scripture to him: ‘Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven.’

As the cops put the burglar in the squad car, they asked him, ‘Why did her scripture verse scare you so much?’

‘Scripture?’ said the burglar, ‘I thought she said she had an axe and

two 38’s!” 13

WHERE DOES HUMOR FIT IN?

…And in the meantime… before we experience all the joy that we seek? Thank God for the gift of good-hearted humor! It helps! And in the times when “good” seems to be as hard to find as water in a desert, we may be able to find the sort of tongue-in-cheek, (even “roll-your eyes”) kind of “good”… the “this may be as good as it gets” kind of “good”… But—even that’s a start! And in God’s word we are advised not to despise small beginnings.

Happiness, joy and laughter are certainly related. They overlap, but are not the same thing. Joy is something deep within that can be evidenced in a gentle peace or contentment, even when circumstances are not obviously “happy”. “Happy” is a state of being that is more visible, and outward-situations/experiences-oriented, while being connected to what satisfies, gives pleasure, or produces enjoyment. Laughter can be produced by either one—or by the ridiculous happening, or greeting card… or come out of “nowhere”!

LAUGHTER

Laughter often happens when we’re not expecting it. It takes us by surprise. In fact, some of the earlier and most original definitions of humor have described it as the quality of being “ludicrous: absurdly incongruous”. It is this aspect of a situation (or story, or joke, or observed happening) that makes us laugh. It’s when things seem opposite of what is expected that we tend to laugh. When things are startling, surprising or inconsistent it is easy to laugh.

Laughter, however, can cause a “break” in a more ‘downer’ day or a more ‘blah’ mood. When it grabs us, for a moment, we have a choice to re-focus… to look at things a little differently… to purposefully direct attention toward… “the good”. The “downer” just may become a little more hazy, with “gracious” overtones, and the “blah” can become a little more “lovely” and worthy of thanks and praise.

Who knows? Maybe even God Himself—coping and dealing with so, so, so much tragedy, waywardness, foolishness, hostility and outright rebellion—can use even the smallest bit of good that humor can bring. We do know that He always practices what He preaches, so He would, therefore, focus on the “good” in situations and in people...

In any event, we may as well be armed with as many tools—both natural and supernatural—as possible when facing the inevitable difficulties of life. I, for one, am most grateful to God for humor and laughter! He is the source of every good gift [James 1:17]. Although we often give credit everywhere else, it’s true that ultimately each and every good thing comes from His gracious hand. And, besides that, we may just find—as we get to know Him personally—that He has quite a sense of humor, Himself. Many of His friends throughout history have found this to be the case… and enjoyed it immensely. And—if we are going to spend an eternity with this Heavenly Bridegroom, wouldn’t it make sense to get on very personal terms with Him now?? 

Speaking of heaven…

“Flying home to his diocese, the bishop was attempting to get his bag into the overhead rack. One of the other passengers helped him and then joked,

‘Will this get me to heaven, Your Excellency?’ ‘Not on this flight, I hope,’ the bishop responded.” 14

The next blog will be posted in a few days. The last two are in a very light vein—real and actual humor. The subjects, as we mentioned at the beginning of this blog, simply beg for (at least a touch) of humor: “Relationships” and “Aging”. Join us.

FOOTNOTES:

1. The Joy of the Gospel, Evangelii Gaudium, Vatican translation, Pauline Books… , p. 6

2. Oh Brother, by Brother Loughlan Sofield, ST, p. 23

3. The Second Book of Catholic Jokes, by Deacon Tom Sheridan, p. 63

4. Ibid, p. 37

5. The Joy of the Gospel, Evangelii Gaudium, Vatican translation, Pauline Books…, p. 9

6. Ibid, p. 4,5

7. Ibid, p. 5,6

8. Ibid, p. 9,10

9. Ibid, p. 11

10. Ibid, p. 2

11. Ibid, p. 3

12. Ibid, p. 3,4

13. The Book of Catholic Jokes, by Deacon Tom Sheridan, p.52

14. Oh, Brother, by Brother Laughlan Sofield, ST, p. 29