On Easter Sunday, April 9, we will celebrate how the resurrection of Jesus shines a light on new beginnings from God. In our worship, we will focus on the thought “Jesus Gives.” In his resurrection, Jesus returns to his disciples and brings gifts, opportunities, invitations and commands to begin living (or begin living again) with the assurance of his life-giving presence. Between Easter and Pentecost, we will remember the gifts of Resurrection Reassurance, Resurrection Restoration, Resurrection Protection, Resurrection Mandate, Resurrection Peace and Resurrection Unity. I hope and pray it will be an encouraging time for us to take our next steps individually and congregationally.
In the broader Christian tradition, there is another celebration that we haven’t formally attempted at Yates, but I’ll confess that I’m intrigued. Holy Humor Sunday, also known as Bright Sunday or Renewal Sunday, is celebrated by Christian churches on the first Sunday after Easter.
History recalls how, on this Sunday, congregants and pastors played practical jokes on each other, drenched each other with water, told jokes, sang, and danced. The custom is rooted in the writings of early Orthodox theologians who said God played a joke on the devil by raising Jesus from the dead. Medieval theologians called it the risus paschalis, “the Easter laugh.” As we move farther from Easter into summertime, I hope this holy humor is something Yates can embrace.
The book of Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time for everything, including “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:4). Cultivating levity and humor reminds us that even in the midst of difficult times, there is also room for joy. In fact, science is also recognizing that laughter enhances physical and mental health, too. A few years ago, Lee Berk, a researcher at Loma Linda University, published a study on how our moods affect our immune systems and illness. He found laughter has a role in fighting infection, cancer and heart disease. Stress can hamper your immune system and giggling can help.
If that weren’t interesting enough, Berk suggests even the anticipation of a good laugh can help. In his study, he measured stress signs in his subjects, and told them that in they would soon watch a really funny show. He even told them when they would watch it. In each subject, spirits lifted before viewing the video. Two days before the viewing, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion and tension were reduced significantly. After the viewing, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion and tension were reduced dramatically.
Berk calls this anticipating joy the “biology of hope.” In his words: “Positive anticipation of humor starts the ball rolling in a sense, in which moods begin to change in ways that help the body fight illness. We believe this shows that even anticipation can be used to help patients recover from a wide range of disorders.” Even scheduling humor can benefit your health!
The book of Proverbs tells us, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Pr. 17:22) The Apostle Paul tells us “hope does not disappoint” (Rom. 5:5), and more fully, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope.” (Rom. 15:13). It’s a reminder that even a simple laugh can reflect the deeper hope of faith, a hope that finds its home in the good news of Jesus.
We will remember the many things Jesus brings in his resurrection this year. I hope that for you, a good laugh is among them!
Grace and Peace,
Christopher