When it comes to spiritual formation, laughter can seem decidedly unserious. It is difficult to imagine admirable figures in church history being anything besides somber—hard to picture, for example, John the Baptist in the desert cracking jokes.
In the Roman world of the New Testament, gravitas was esteemed above levity, and that sentiment continued in much of the Christian tradition. “Lighthearted and heedless of our defects, we do not feel the real sorrows of our souls,” wrote Thomas à Kempis, “but often indulge in empty laughter when we have good reason to weep.” Likewise, chapter seven of St. Benedict’s rule states that “only a fool raises his voice in laughter.”
Read Full Article »