Many human beings feel guilty about being alive. Catholics who have been over-taught about sin feel even more guilty. Then, if they’re lucky, they learn that we are all sinners, but God loves us anyway. Then they smile. If they are really blessed, someone teaches them that nothing can separate them from God, nothing, not even sin (Romans 8:38-39). And then they can laugh at themselves.
Liz Kelly in her book 50 Reasons I Love Being Catholic lists “Heavenly Humor” as a biggie:
Truly holy people possess a lightness of spirit, an ability to laugh at themselves. Ecclesiastes assures us that there is a “time to laugh,” and Proverbs confirms that “a cheerful heart is good medicine.” The Italians say it this way: Il ros fa buon sangue, or, literally, “Laughter makes good blood.”
Laughing is healthy. Funny is good. The idea that we are worthless or alone or unforgivable is a bad joke.
A Course in Miracles reminds us: “Into eternity, where all is one, there crept a tiny, mad idea, at which the Son of God remembered not to laugh.” We are all sons and daughters of God. The “tiny, mad idea” is that we are not, that we are separate from God and from each other. The next time you feel isolated or racked with guilt, please, please, remember to laugh! Sanity requires it!
Check out the book that inspired this blog, Why Stay Catholic?
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One of my all time favorite “holy card pictures” is of the Laughing Jesus…
Yes, yes, and yes. Without some humor based on trust I would not have made it this far. Thanks Mike for the string of wisdom posts you are giving us.
Please talk more about “A Course in Miracles”.
It’s a wonderful spiritual book. Its purpose is to remove the blocks to love’s awareness. Have you read it, Kathleen?
Oh – thank God for laughter because in laughter I so often find God!