April 7, 2024 - Sermon - Holy Humor Sunday
April 7, 2024 - Sermon - "Holy Humor Sunday" by Pastor Jenn
You may or may not be aware that today is not only the first Sunday after Easter, but it has other names too like: Holy Humour Sunday, Laughter Sunday, Bright Sunday. Such names developed through early church theologians like Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, and John Chrysostom, who all wrote in one way or another about "Risus paschalis - the Easter laugh" which comes from God playing a joke on the devil. Just when he thought he had won, Jesus rose from the grave. From their writings, churches in 15th century developed services where priests would deliberately include amusing stories and jokes in their sermons in an attempt to make the faithful laugh.
Like this: What kind of man was Boaz - from the Old Testament - before he married? Ruthless.
Who was the greatest financier in the Bible? Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.
Which Bible character had no parents? Joshua, son of Nun.
After the service, Churchgoers and pastors played practical jokes on each other, sang, and danced. Sadly, the observance of the Easter Laugh was officially outlawed by Pope Clement X in the 17th century. Perhaps people were having too much fun, and the Pope may have had no sense of humor. But since the early 1990’s churches began to resurrect some of these Christian traditions—to celebrate the grace and mercy of God through the gift of laughter and joy. Author C. S. Lewis in his book “Surprised by Joy!” writes that Easter is “to feel the cemented solid assurance that God is in charge and Jesus is alive”.
Today we hope to bring out some of that joy as we worship the risen Lord.
Opening Prayer for Holy Humor Sunday
O Great Laughing God, we come into your presence with joy and longing to be surprised. We thank you for giving us the gift of laughter and delight. These things give hints as to the nature of your purpose for us and for all the earth. May we find that in giving up to laughter there is healing and hope and abundance and blessing. Tickle our souls with the brush of your Spirit to renew our worship and our living. Amen.[1]
Sermon: The Greatest Joke Gospel Lesson: John 20:19-29
Thomas had to have felt like the joke was on him. Friends pulling his leg, having something over him.
Maybe this is where the start of April Fool’s Day began, it could be, as no one seems to know where or when that silly tradition started, other than it is a day of pranks and laughter. I heard about some friends playing little jokes on each other this past week on April Fool’s Day, switching the sugar and saltshakers, gluing a coin to a sidewalk so no one could pick it up, and putting fake bugs in people’s foods. But I also learned how common it is for corporations to now post ridiculous sounding items for sale on Instagram and to their websites for April Fool’s. Like Ikea who posted on Instagram a new line of products, the INVSBAL collection each costing $1.04 (turn it around 4/01) Krispy Kreme offered this on April 1st: You bring it we glaze it promotion. And if people showed up to get something glazed, they got an original glazed dozen for $4.01. 7 eleven offered this new enticing beverage: the Big Bite Hot Dog sparkling water that features the “delicious and mouthwatering experience” of a Big Bite Hot Dog, including ketchup and mustard flavors.” “Gone are the days of alternating bites of a hot dog with sips of a beverage, now those on the go can swap the bun for bubbles,” the ad proclaimed. People pulling pranks, that’s what Thomas had to have been thinking when he hears from his friends that Jesus was alive.
So, the text implies that he doubted it. He doubted his friends, he doubted their words, and he wouldn’t believe, unless he saw Jesus himself. Which he eventually does. And once again the risen Jesus becomes proof of God’s great joy for all stating, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
It’s a wonderful continuation of the Easter story, and it’s a wonderful way to consider and celebrate the Easter laugh. God’s greatest joke on death, evil, and pain. Proving that our God is not only a God of life and grace, but our God is also a God of joy.
In fact, scriptures point to this fact:
Proverbs 10:28: The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
Psalm 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Nehemiah 8:10: “Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
There are plenty more texts that associate joy with God, but also joy with Jesus.
Remember during the time of Advent, we have our Joy Sunday. It’s typically our 3rd Sunday, and we light a pink candle rather than the traditional blue. We have that day to understand that Jesus is God’s joy incarnate. He brought joy to the world, fulfilling the Isaiah prophecy that states when God comes, Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:10 Jesus brings joy to the world.
In fact, at his last dinner with his disciples, turn to John 15 and listen to the words he shares with his followers: 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. John 15:9-11 Because of Jesus, because of his extended love from God, our joy is full, our joy is complete, and nothing, absolutely nothing can take away the joy of the Lord, not pain, not persecution, not fear, not even death, as Jesus has the last laugh over all that, with the resurrection. And my friends, the same power that raised him from the dead, the joy and love of the Lord, is the same joy and love among us today. It does not mean we will never weep, nor suffer, but it does mean in the end, joy will overcome it all, because God’s love conquers all. Peter writes about it like this: 1 Peter 1:8-9 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
So, it really is appropriate that after going through the season of Lent, and the difficulties of Holy Week, that the risen Jesus, the joy of God incarnate, raises joy within us. Or as John of Damascus wrote: Christ the Lord is risen. Our joy that hath no end. Will you pray with me…
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer
You smiled and the sun burst through the shadows of chaos; you chuckled, and the platypus splashed in creation's fountain; you laughed, and all that is good and beautiful was given shape by you, Imaginative God.
Snickering at the feeble attempts of the evil one, you showed us how to resist temptation; giggling at sin's desperate desire to hold on to us, you released us by your love; howling with laughter at death's foolish belief that the tomb could hold you, you burst forth into the kingdom as the stars pealed with joy, Laughing Jesus.
As you fill us with new life, may we delight in sharing it with others; as you tell us the good news which can never be taken from us, may we rejoice in offering it to the broken, the sad, the lonely; as you tickle us with grace, may we give it away with laughter on our lips and joy in our hearts, Spirit of Easter. God in Community, Holy in One, our hearts overflow with joy and wonder as we lift the prayer Jesus has taught us, Our Father . . .(sins)[2]
[1] ~ from the United Church of Canada’s Bay of Quinte Conference website. http://www.bayofquinteconference.ca/
[2] Thom M. Shuman, on his blog, Lectionary Liturgies.