April 19, 2020

John 20:19-31

Philippians 4:4-9

Rev. Kristen J. Kleiman

Joy is not usually an adjective people use for Jesus. Comforting, solemn, serious, even angry, those are some ways people envision Jesus. Jesus was also joyful though. Jesus celebrated and rejoiced because Jesus knew that joy and rejoicing are just as important to God’s kingdom as inclusive, extravagant love.

And we have seen in this time of physical separation and great anxiety that humor is comfort; humor is inspiration; humor is hope. From the Scottish broadcaster doing a play by play of his dogs to whole family TikTok videos to memes of unhappy cats whose owners are always home.

Time and time again, silliness has helped us shake off the despair and anxiety of this time and persevere in hope.

So this morning, in faithfulness to God, aware that humor and laughter have the powerful ability to heal (and oh, how we need healing right now!), we share in the church tradition and spiritual practice of holy humor.

Traditionally, I use the TV to show you a slide show of cartoons I have collected over the past year. This year, you will have to help me by posting your own cartoons and by sharing with me your jokes in the comment or chat sections.

My first joke came from the L. family

What’s the only kind of joke you can tell during quarantine?

An inside joke.

This next set come from an email P. S. sent me:

Why do sea horses only like salt water?

Because the pepper water makes them sneeze.

What kind of fish goes well with peanut butter?

Jelly fish.

What kind of fish likes bubble gum? Blow fish.

How does a fish cut through wood? It uses a sea saw.

What lives in the sea and carries a lot of people? An octoBUS.

What do you call a belt full of watches?

A waist of time

Why shouldn’t you play hide and seek with a leopard?

You’ll always be spotted.

Why was the broom late for work?

He overswept.

Why are calendars so popular?

They have a lot of dates.

Why did the chicken cross the playground?

To get to the other slide.

Why did the computer break up with the internet?

There was no “connection”

What is a mouse’s least favorite weather?

When it rains cats and dogs

When is a door not a door?

When it’s ajar.

How much did it cost the pirate to get his ears pierced?

A buck an ear.

Why did Kayla go to the river when she was sad?

To fish for compliments.

What did zero say to eight?

Nice belt!

If 3’s a crowd, what are 4 and 5?

9

If you have 5 apples in one hand and 5 apples in the other hand, what would you have?

Really big hands

What has four wheels and flies?

A garbage truck

What sport do bugs like best?

Cricket, of course.

What’s the world’s biggest ant?

An elephant

What was the praying mantis doing in the soup?

Saying grace

The next two are my son Jack’s original jokes:

What do you get from a somersaulting chicken? An egg roll.

What do you get when a chicken rides the Drop Fall ride at Lake Compounce? Scrambled eggs

And no Holy Humor Sunday would be complete without a joke from A. M., our vice moderator:

Since the quarantine hit, my gas mileage is great! I’m getting 3 weeks to a gallon.