Laughter

Abbot Tryphon

Source: The Morning Offering

December 12, 2015

    

Although we have no written evidence that Our Lord Jesus Christ laughed, I am personally convinced that he did. How could He not have shared in our humanity with perfection had he not had a sense of humor, and shared moments of laughter with His disciples? Laughter is such a precious gift, for it allows us to share circumstances in our lives in a special way. When we allow ourselves to see with joy those often funny events that take place around us, we are able to put ourselves in a proper perspective. Our ability to laugh at ourselves helps reduce our sense of self-importance.

That a Christian can laugh in no way suggests it is proper to smile at dirty humor, or make light of another persons infirmity or failure. Our humor must never be based on ridicule, or the demeaning of another. Christ used humor when He depicted a camel struggling to get through the eye of a needle. (Matt. 19:24). And we read in Proverbs 17:22, “that a merry heart does good, like medicine”.

A sense of humor demonstrates to others that we live with joy and gladness in our hearts, because we have reason to be happy. We believe the gift of salvation is good reason to be happy, since the Lord’s ministry did not end on the Cross, but was followed by His Holy Resurrection. Living with a joyful heart adds value to our faith because it makes others want to share in the joy they see in us.

We can laugh because we know that all will work out in the end because God loves us, and we believe His providential hand is at work in our lives. We believe that God knows there is plenty of sadness, sorrow, and sickness in this life, but that it will not prevail, because His plan for our salvation is at work. The old Celtic saying, “Life is all about loving, living, and laughing, not about hating, dying, and moaning,” has as it’s basis the Orthodox Christianity of the Celtic people. That is why it is an oxymoron for a Christian to be crabby, griping, and whining, and why “Joy is the infallible sign of God’s presence”.

With love in Christ,

Abbot Tryphon

Abbot Tryphon

The Morning Offering

12/12/2015

See also
Bulgarian Orthodox Church speaks out against ‘laughter yoga’ school exam question Bulgarian Orthodox Church speaks out against ‘laughter yoga’ school exam question Bulgarian Orthodox Church speaks out against ‘laughter yoga’ school exam question Bulgarian Orthodox Church speaks out against ‘laughter yoga’ school exam question
Laughter yoga is no laughing matter as far as the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is concerned, with inclusion of the topic in a school exam question prompting the church to order all priests to read out on a Sunday a special declaration against what it calls a threat to the traditional religion of Bulgarians. Life Becomes Dangerous Without Humor - Patriarch Kirill at meeting with Odessans Life Becomes Dangerous Without Humor - Patriarch Kirill at meeting with Odessans Life Becomes Dangerous Without Humor - Patriarch Kirill at meeting with Odessans Life Becomes Dangerous Without Humor - Patriarch Kirill at meeting with Odessans
"Life becomes dangerous without humor," Patriarch Kirill said on Thursday at his meeting with public figures in the Odessa National Opera and Ballet Theatre answering the questions of the participants. “When a life of prosperity or affluence opens up for us, we must remember God, thank Him….” “When a life of prosperity or affluence opens up for us, we must remember God, thank Him….”
An interview with Protopriest George Breev “When a life of prosperity or affluence opens up for us, we must remember God, thank Him….” “When a life of prosperity or affluence opens up for us, we must remember God, thank Him….”
An interview with Protopriest George Breev
At present, the spiritual fire of the people is not nearly as bright and intense as it was in the beginning of the 1990’s. This is because many people, having already entered the Church, have understood that the path which has opened up for them is not so simple and easy. To walk that path, one must cultivate oneself spiritually; but this is a constant task: morning and evening prayers, prayers throughout the day, confession, participation in the services, seeing one’s mistakes and struggling to correct them.
Comments
Bishoy4/12/2022 3:14 pm
Haha it seems kind of paradoxical to write a semi-serious homily about why we need to laugh.
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