Sermon March 29, 2020.

Virtual Service

Reflection:

Humor, Humility and Humanity

In 2016 this wonderful book found its way to us. “The Book of Joy” is a wonderful conversational book between two spiritual Giants who have survived more than fifty years of exile and cruel violence of oppression. Despite their hardships – or, as they would say, because of them, - they are two of the most joyful people on the planet.

In April 2015, Archbishop Tutu traveled to the Dalai Lamas home to celebrate Dalai Lamas 80 birthday and to create what they hoped would be a gift for others. They looked back on their long lives to answer one single burning questions: How do we find joy in the face of life’s inevitable suffering?

In these days when we are confined to our own homes, I will encourage you to enjoy one of the conversations on YouTube between the two men. Instead of binge watching on Netflix, Amazon Prime or Hulu, binge watch on wisdom, joy and faith in the presence of Tutu and Lama.

Usually here at the Danish Church, we dedicate one of the services during Lent to humor. In our pre-Corona virus days, this Sunday was planned as such this year. The last Sunday of March and the Last Sunday before Palm Sunday and Easter.

But nobody knows the day or the hour. How different is this last Sunday in March than we planned and assumed?

And still. Or maybe even more because of this unpredictable crisis of our time, we still need humor. Social Media is overflowing with funny memes and stories from around the world. Social Media is showing funny inventive silly activities that creative people share, - and we need to laugh in the middle of all the serious precaution.

Humor, like humility, comes from the same root word in Latin for humanity: humus. The lowly earth is the source for all three words: humor, humility and humanity. Is it any surprise that we must have a sense of humility to be able to laugh at ourselves and that that laughter reminds us of our shared humanity?

Like pastor Rick Warren says: “We take ourselves way too seriously, and we don’t take God seriously enough. It is not be accident that human and humility come from the same root word. If you can laugh at yourself, you’ll always have plenty of good material.”

Like pastor Ted Loder says: “Laughter is a holy thing It is as sacred as music and silence and solemnity, maybe more sacred. Laughter is like a prayer, like a bridge over which creatures tiptoe to meet each other. Laughter is like mercy. It heals. When you can laugh, at yourself, you are free.”

Humor, humility and humanity. Let us sing!

Reading: Philippians 4. 4-9

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Sermon: “Humor, humility and humanity.” “

Humor, humility and humanity. A human trinity.

Think for a for a moment how closely these 3 are connected.

· humor builds on humility and humanity.

· humility builds on humor and humanity.

· And humanity builds on humor and humility.

We need this human trinity in these days. To cope with our crisis and situation: to curb our concerns and to strengthen our compassion.

Just looking at the faces of Tutu and Dalai Lama, makes you in a better move. Especially Desmond Tutu’s face influences our mood: like Dalai Lama said: just looking at him makes me smile. This mischievous smile. These sparkling eyes of humor, humanity and humility.

In “The book of Joy” Desmond Tutu tells a story that truly connects humor, humility and humanity.

Desmond Tutu tells that his wife, Leah, has been very good at keeping him humble. Once, they were driving, and Desmond Tutu had noticed that she was a little smugger than she normally was. And then, when he looked at the car in front of them, he saw what she had already seen. A bumper sticker that said: “Any woman who wants to be equal to a man has no ambition!”

Later Desmond Tutu tells this story:

“When I died, like it was expected,” Tutu said with a gentle smile, “I went to Heaven.”

He continued: “But then when I arrived at the Pearly Gates, St Peter said to me No! - I must go to a warmer place, you know. So, I went there.” Tutu adjusted his glasses, “Then a few days later, St Peter heard a bang, bang, banging at Heaven’s gate. He went to go check, and he saw that it was the Devil knocking.

“St Peter says to him: what are you doing here?!’ The Devil replied, ‘Since you sent Tutu down to the warmer place, he’s been causing too much trouble! I came here to ask for political asylum.”

Humor, humility and humanity.

The last chapter of the book are practical joy practices and exercise centered around the Eight Pillars of Joy.

1. Perspective – there are many different angles, yours, others and God’s. Try a self-distancing practice.

2. Humility: remember our common bond with others. We are alike.

3. Humor: as laughter is much better and laughing at ourselves develops our humor, humility and humanity.

4. Acceptance: any possibility of joy requires an acceptance of reality. The only place where change can begin

5. Forgiveness: freeing we from the past, from bitterness and hurt.

6. Gratitude: I am alive – savor life and its gifts.

7. Compassion: Dalai Lama feels that education our children to have more compassion is the single most important thing we can do to transform our world.

8. Generosity: how can we be generous with time and money; how can we transform and how can we be happy givers?

"As much as the world has an instinct for evil and is a breeding ground for genocide, holocaust, slavery, racism, war, oppression, and injustice, the world has an even greater instinct for goodness, rebirth, mercy, beauty, truth, freedom and love." ~ Desmond Tutu

“ If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito>’ Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama says: “We are all here on this planet, as it were, as tourists. None of us can live here forever. The longest we might live is a hundred years. So while we are here we should try to have a good heart and to make something positive and useful of our lives. Whether we live just a few years or a whole century, it would be truly regrettable and sad if we were to spend that time aggravating the problems that afflict other people, animals, and the environment. The most important thing is to be a good human being.”

Humor, humility and humanity.

Amen.