Laughing at God

What makes us laugh? It’s hard to define or predict (consider how often professional comedians and comedy writers produce punch lines that fail).

One of the things that makes us laugh is absurdity: a scenario that is so out of sync with logic and everyday experience, it’s funny.

In today’s first reading (Gen 18:1-15), Sarah laughs at God.

Fortunately for her, in his own way, God quietly laughs back.

Why does she laugh? Because the idea that she will have a child seems patently absurd: it defies logic and everything state-of-the-art medical science knew at the time.

There is, of course, more than a touch of bitterness in her laugh: lancing the boil of old disappointment.

The cause for God’s laughter is obvious: it is Sarah’s doubt that is out of sync with logic and reality, for all things are possible with God.

God, of course, would not laugh with bitterness, but with delight and with love for Sarah and his great friend Abraham.

Faith opens our horizons beyond the limits of this world, beyond the limits of science and human experience.

Faith enables us to laugh with God, in great joy and overflowing love.