"The tenth step of humility is that we are not given to ready laughter,
for it is written: 'Only fools raise their voices in laughter'."
The halls of Benedictine monasteries do not ring with raucous laughter. But before we conclude that Benedictines must be a pretty dour lot, let's think about what makes people laugh. The current election season was loaded with laughter. There were parodies, satires and witticisms filling the air every time we turned on the TV and, depending upon your point of view, these things made you laugh...or make you angry and uncomfortable. These were laughs gained at the expense of someone's dignity or reputation. Maybe we laughed because we enjoyed seeing other folks squirm when we didn't agree with them, or maybe we just laughed because the joke was witty and clever.
Why would St. Benedict have a problem with this?
Benedict didn't actually want to stop laughter as much as he wanted the members of the community to examine what they laughed at and why. What does it say about us when we laugh at things that are crude or sinful? What is in our hearts when we laugh at people whom we should treat with respect or compassion? What is the character of a nation that allows its votes to be swayed by the exaggerated comedy of late night TV, who gets its news and insights from satirists and jokesters?
The halls of Benedictine monasteries do not ring with raucous laughter. But before we conclude that Benedictines must be a pretty dour lot, let's think about what makes people laugh. The current election season was loaded with laughter. There were parodies, satires and witticisms filling the air every time we turned on the TV and, depending upon your point of view, these things made you laugh...or make you angry and uncomfortable. These were laughs gained at the expense of someone's dignity or reputation. Maybe we laughed because we enjoyed seeing other folks squirm when we didn't agree with them, or maybe we just laughed because the joke was witty and clever.
Why would St. Benedict have a problem with this?
Benedict didn't actually want to stop laughter as much as he wanted the members of the community to examine what they laughed at and why. What does it say about us when we laugh at things that are crude or sinful? What is in our hearts when we laugh at people whom we should treat with respect or compassion? What is the character of a nation that allows its votes to be swayed by the exaggerated comedy of late night TV, who gets its news and insights from satirists and jokesters?
How easily we lose control of the direction of our own opinions when we let ourselves be led by laughter. We find ourselves laughingly agreeing with ideas that might be repugnant to us if we heard them presented in serious conversation. We dismiss our reaction by saying, "It was only a joke."
Benedict would say that what we laugh at tells something about who we are. It is better to stop laughing and start thinking if we find ourselves lining up with views that actually oppose our better judgment just because the speaker is funny.
Better to replace laughter with good humor, the kind that responds gently and respectfully to the experiences of others. The Benedictines do laugh together, but it is at the kinds of things that come from innocence, not from malicious intent. Benedict is in favor of the laughter that bubbles up in the presence of surprises and unexpected happy events. He encourages us to greet each other with smiles and the sounds of joy that come from our loving and encouraging hearts.
One can't help laughing delightedly at the sweet antics of children at play. We laugh with each other when something silly happens. We laugh for sheer joy when we are carefree and playing together. This is laughter that comes from good humor. It comes from a clean heart that doesn't despise one's fellow man.
Oh, to have a mind that is discerning and a heart full of good humor. Then we are less likely fall into laughing at the things of which we should be ashamed or by which we should be saddened. Then we will be able to lead the world toward goodness instead of following it into the darkness of thinly veiled hatred and prejudice.
Benedict would say that what we laugh at tells something about who we are. It is better to stop laughing and start thinking if we find ourselves lining up with views that actually oppose our better judgment just because the speaker is funny.
Better to replace laughter with good humor, the kind that responds gently and respectfully to the experiences of others. The Benedictines do laugh together, but it is at the kinds of things that come from innocence, not from malicious intent. Benedict is in favor of the laughter that bubbles up in the presence of surprises and unexpected happy events. He encourages us to greet each other with smiles and the sounds of joy that come from our loving and encouraging hearts.
One can't help laughing delightedly at the sweet antics of children at play. We laugh with each other when something silly happens. We laugh for sheer joy when we are carefree and playing together. This is laughter that comes from good humor. It comes from a clean heart that doesn't despise one's fellow man.
Oh, to have a mind that is discerning and a heart full of good humor. Then we are less likely fall into laughing at the things of which we should be ashamed or by which we should be saddened. Then we will be able to lead the world toward goodness instead of following it into the darkness of thinly veiled hatred and prejudice.
Good humor is lighthearted and it brings light into the hearts of others.
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