[source: CBMidwest]
"A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken." [Proverbs 15:13]
Recent research has demonstrated what our grandmothers always knew: LAUGHTER is GOOD MEDICINE. Humor and laughter make a significant contribution to both our physical and mental health. Learning to adopt a lighter attitude and see the funny side of everyday situations gives us the resilience we need to cope on the tough days.
Let us pause and recall that the God of joy and laughter is always abiding with us and filling us with life, with hope, with creativity and with a thirst for union with Him. We are God’s people, alive in the Spirit and called to continually celebrate His presence in our lives. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
"There is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven, a time to laugh, a time to dance, a time to embrace." [Ecclesiastes 3:1,4,5]
Humor is both God’s gift and a life-saving medicine.
"There’s nothing like a good laugh. It tickles our very souls. Laughter is an activity of the heart. We scrunch our souls with negativity and a lack of enthusiasm, but laughter smoothes them out. Laughter makes a noise so others can hear our feelings.” [Tickle Your Soul, Anne Bryan Smollin]
Reflection
An aspect of a child-like spirit is joyful glee. Jesus Christ invites us to enjoy life, to nurture our sense of humor. Our faith, and especially our prayer life is enriched through this God given gift. One of the reasons I love being around children and teenagers is that they find delight in so much of life. They find delight and wonder in so many things, and notice that which we adults often times either take for granted or simply do not see. Children then usually react without the inhibitions that we adults place upon ourselves. This reaction often takes form in laughter, joyous, bubbly laughter. The humor of life is fresh and easily accessed in the childlike spirit.
Meditation
Laughter cleanses us from discouragement, anger, apathy, and grief, making room for new feelings and thoughts. Laughter frees us from self-consciousness, anxiety, and stress. Laughter helps heal our physical ailments – it massages internal organs and strengthens the life force flowing through us. Laughter teaches us to take our troubles lightly, releasing our spirits from the weight of the world and of ourselves. Laughter unites what has been separate, connecting us to one another and to our true selves. Laughter calls forth our desire to live. Laughter, then, is a source of miracles. Surely, it’s one of the places where we can meet our God. [“Glad Day,” Joan Larkin]
Intercessions
That our hearts may always be filled with joy and thanksgiving, we pray…
For those who see no joy in life, we pray…
For those who are able to lift up our spirits, we pray…
That we realize the importance of taking care of our mental and physical health through the gift of laughter, we pray…
Let us pray:
Loving Father,
Lord of clowns and smiling saints,
we rejoice that You are a God of laughter and tears.
Blessed are You, for You have rooted within us
the gifts of humor, lightheartedness and mirth.
With jokes and comedy, You cause our hearts to sing
as laughter flows out of us.
We are grateful that Your Son, Jesus, the Master,
daily invites us to be Fools for Your sake,
to embrace the madness
of Your prophets, holy people and saints.
We delight in that Holy Madness
which becomes medicine to heal the chaos of the cosmos
since it calls each of us
from the hum-drumness of daily life
into joy, adventure,
and most of all, into FREEDOM.
With circus bands and organ grinders,
with fools, clowns, court jesters and comedians,
with high spirited angels and saints,
we too join in the fun and foolishness of life,
so that Your holy laughter
may ring out to the edges of the universe.
Blessed are You, O Lord, our God,
Who invites us to be filled with holy laughter.
♥ AMEN ♥
♥ AMEN ♥
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