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Joy an essential element for good spiritual health, Jesuit says
20-11-2009
MARYKNOLL, N.Y. (CNS) -- Joy is an essential element of good spiritual health and humor is a tool for evangelization, humility, welcoming and healing, according to Jesuit Father James Martin.
His address on "Laughing With God: Joy, Humor and Laughter in the Spiritual Life," kept more than 500 people grinning and nodding in amusement Nov. 15 at the Maryknoll Mission Center.
"Joy has a disreputable reputation in the church and that's a tragedy," Father Martin said.
"Anyone truly in touch with God is joyful. When you're deadly serious, you're probably seriously dead."
Father Martin, an author, illustrated his talk with jokes featuring Jesuits, Franciscans, Dominicans, Trappists and Maryknollers. He said people miss the inherent humor in some of the Gospel stories because they are so familiar, like an old coin whose sharp edges have been worn smooth.
Father Martin said Jesus had a sense of humor and appreciated humor in others.
Father Martin said humor deepens our relationship with God, just as healthy human relationships include humor. He suggested that the surprising moments in life are signs of God's playfulness.
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20091119.htm
