FRIARPUK'S POSTINGS: A, Pentecost 5, Proper 6

There are many different types of laughter. When we laugh we do so for all sorts of reasons. Sarah laughed when God drew nearby and foretold that she was to give birth to a son long after her body was capable of bearing children, and in her husband’s old age. When we laugh, why we laugh, and how we laugh, or even if we laugh, can tell us much about ourselves and our situation in life. There are many different types of laughter.

Laughter could be broken up into three different categories. The first group is the largest and, surprisingly, reveals negative connotations in laughing. The first of these is the laugh of a villain — the evil laugh. This is the laugh of the bad guy. He’s got the good guy just where he wants him, the power is all his, as he rubs his hands together and lets out that evil laugh just before he plunges his victim into chaos and mayhem.

Then there is the naughty laugh. This laugh has been secretively sniggered by children for years; especially in classrooms all around the world. This is the laugh one makes when something is funny, but it’s not the appropriate time to laugh, or it’s not fitting because it’s done at someone else’s expense.

The third laugh in this first group is the laugh one makes in sarcasm; when one is angry or frustrated. This is the “yeah right” laugh. Then there is the embarrassed laugh that one makes when we blush after being caught out. In this situation it’s either laugh or cry! Followed closely is the nervous laugh we make just before we launch into the unknown or the potentially dangerous. It is a laugh of hesitation. And the last laugh in this negative group is the contradictory laugh; this laugh is the laugh of the disbeliever. It’s like the nervous laugh but the difference is, this laugh is the “no way” type of laugh.

These types of laughter in the first group are all negative in nature. But even more so, they are all kinds of laughter that encourage the individual to draw into themselves, or to consider themselves as more superior than the next fellow.

The second category is the positive side of the three dimensions of laughter. Its character is impartial, in that it neither draws one into themselves or out of themselves. This is the laughter that comes from happiness or contentment. It’s the laughter that can come from an individual in isolation, but it can also be influenced from outside as we hear or see something that makes us laugh. Like the negative group of laughter, this happy laughter ends with me; it needs to go no further to be effective.

The third category of laughter is also positive. But unlike happiness or contentment laughter, this laughter needs a community to exist. This laughter is the laughter of a joyful heart; this laughter is the laughter of rejoicing. When we laugh because of joy, we are compelled to share this rejoicing with others, because we have been drawn out of ourselves by someone else. The laughter that comes as a result of joy, needs an outside beginning influence, and it doesn’t end with us! This laughter causes us to share and serve; this laughter gives glory to someone other than ourselves!

Sarah laughed! In fact it’s reported in Genesis that she laughed twice. In Genesis eighteen she laughed as she stood in side the entrance to her tent as she heard God tell Abraham that they were to have a son within the year. Listen for the nature of Sarah’s laughter as she hears what God says…

The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.” (Genesis 18:10-15)

After God followed through with his promise, Sarah and Abraham had a son, and they named him Isaac, which means, to laugh. Ponder the nature of her laughter now that she bore the child of God’s promise to her and Abraham…

Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” (Genesis 21:6-7)

First we heard the laughter of an elderly woman who was perhaps bitter and angry, embarrassed and nervous, secretive and disbelieving. Even though this woman was old, wisdom was still to come as she laughed out of ignorant disbelief as to what God could do.

And then the turn around, even in her disbelief and doubting, in her secretiveness and her hopeless embarrassment, and in her bitterness and dishonesty, God effects change in Sarah and the nature of her laughter is changed forever.

Sarah’s laughter which was once negative and self-centred became joyful and shared. God had brought laughter and it caused her to share it with all who gathered around her. Such is the nature of joy when a person is caused to rejoice in the power of God.

The laughter that comes as a result of a joyful heart is often experienced as a result of our powerlessness. Just like Sarah we were powerless, and in many ways we still are powerless in ourselves. We were sinners! And we still are! It’s only due to the power God afforded to us at the cross in the powerlessness and death of Jesus Christ that we are daily raised to new life by the power of God.

Jesus Christ is truly our model here, as we reflect on his joy recorded in Hebrews 12: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:2-3)

Joy! Joy! What joy can one find in being flogged to a cross? Only the joy that is grounded in someone greater, to serve and be shared in a community!

This is the joy that comes from the God who gives us peace, the God who grants us access into grace through his Son, the God who justifies us through his gift of faith from the Holy Spirit, the God whose joy it is to hear our rejoicing in hope, as we endure in him even in the midst of suffering.

Sarah laughed in joy with all those around her who heard what God had done. But like any mother who raises children, the laughter is not always present. In fact, at times, there is great sadness and suffering. But the joy that gave her cause to laugh remained, and that same joy remains with us, even in our suffering and sorrows. We bear the joy that was set before Christ, and now is sent out by him who holds all the power of joy and hope.

It might seem that we have no cause for laughter, and our laughter might take on a negative or self-serving tone at times, but in our moments of powerlessness realised, we do well to remember and trust these words… when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly… God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5: 6,8)

What greater joy can we experience than Christ’s own love towards us? Just like Sarah we might say, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” To which Jesus Christ, the author of all eternal joy and hope, also says, freely you have received, freely give. Let the joy of your salvation, flow on to the communities, into which Christ has called you. Amen.