“It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” (Matt. 15:26)
If you are looking to cultivate spiritual levity, I suggest authors like G.K. Chesterton, specifically Orthodoxy and A Man Called Thursday and Frederick Beuchner’s The Son of Laughter. For something a bit more artistic try The Abosolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie or Not without Laughter by Langston Hughes. These author’s bear in their souls the laughter and levity of God better than most.
I am particularly fond of Elton Trueblood’s The Humor of Christ. Trueblood interprets the passage of the Cannanite (black, gentile) woman (whom Jesus calls a “dog”) in light of Jesus’ wry sense of humor. This text is often used as a passage about the virtues of persistent prayer. Trueblood sees the text as a redemptive passage about the inclusive nature of God’s Kingdom. Trueblood suggests that Jesus was not seriously calling the Cannanite woman a “dog,” but rather he was poking fun, and therefore, challenging the very system that denigrates this woman, curses her and labels her an outsider. Trueblood suggest that we need a sense of humor to interpret this passage. Jesus was sharing an inside joke with a woman who is seen as a dog by the spiritual elite.
We can see Jesus saying these words with a knowing wink and a nod, making fun of a deadly serious issue. Jesus jests with the woman, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” (Matt. 15:26 a) The exchange is similar to what happens on the streets of North America when one African American greets another African American with the taboo “N” word. The very use of the word is meant to unmask its meaning and subvert its curse. This particular black woman seems to get Jesus’ joke. She jests in return, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” (Matt. 15:26 b) It takes some imagination, but I can see both of them giving each other a knowing smile as they say it. They debunk the whole absurd notion of what is blessed and what is cursed. Laughter lives, “dogs” are fed and the kingdom of God that exists for all people is rediscovered in the comedic genius of God.
The point of the last three reflections is to suggest that there is a kind of divine humor at the center life that good spirituality honors and cultivates. In a world so full of pain and heartache we would do well to lighten up so that, like Sarah, we can declare to the world, “God has brought laughter for me.” (Gen. 21:6) I am convinced that a good sense of humor allows us to be serious about the right stuff. When I consider my own timid soul and the collective soul of the church, I think Voltaire was right when he said,
“God is a comedian, playing to an audience too afraid to laugh.”
---
Kris Rocke
Serves as director of Center for Transforming Mission
Bumps into Reality by accident, most of the time
Heard God laugh once
Comments (1)
Im glad a sense of humor has a place in the Kingdom. If it didnt, im not sure i would. Humor is often the first slanted thought that comes to my heart and mind, particularly when boredom, monotinay or tension needs to be splintered. Ive learned over the years to rehearse a comical comment in my head at least once when im in unfamiliar company. Once too often i have experienced that uncomfortable...."oops, did I just offend someone?".... feeling. I have to be honest and say that im not convinced that my attempts at humor are rooted in humility. Perhaps its rooted in my identity.
Posted by matt belgie | March 16, 2009 7:42 AM
Posted on March 16, 2009 07:42