Laughter is the expression of joy in the presence of God. Before God, laughter seeks connection with the gift of joy that God can bestow upon the poor and the exploited. Before the public, laughter is used as a surviving device among the poor. It is a sense of humour that keeps the poor going when they are faced with intense economic hardship, political persecution and military repression. But laughter is also a means of unveiling the shallowness, immorality and illogic of brute violence on innocent peoples. It unmasks the foolishness and unethical nature of abusive power. It mocks at the destructive fascination for violence. Diego Irarrazaval from Chile, in a biblical reflection based on Luke 10:21, speaks of ‘God’s joy’ and compares it to the sense of humor that the indigenous communities in south America, particularly in the highlands of Peru, exhibited in the face of intense hardship during political and military repression. “They laughed at the shallowness of brute power that exercises itself on the powerless.” It is this ritual of laughter that manifests the presence of God’s gift of joy that mediates hope for the poor and the dispossessed. It does not communicate a deficiency that will be made good in an afterlife; rather, it mediates a foretaste that can keep hope alive so as to trust in and strive for peace with justice which also provides for forgiveness.
From, Deenabandhu Manchala, ed., Nurturing Peace
Alongside One Another 
This is a masterpiece.
Indeed laughter helps reduce the pain and adversaries of life.
Nice one Padre. Thumbs up Padre
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Well done Bruno. Share the love, share the laughter!
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Very reflective. Thanks Ikenna.
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Thanks a lot Fr.
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How sad the world would ve without laughter. Nice write up Fr
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Now we know there’s really more to laughter, than laughter.
Thanks Pas
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Sure!
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With laughter you can confused and conquer one million enemies, it makes you lively and noticeable in a group of individuals. It puts the environment in a peaceful state even when all is not well. Nice one father.
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Thanks dear for the comments. Let’s heal ourselves and the world around us with some bit of laughter. God bless!
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With laughter you can confuse and conquer one million enemies, it makes you lively and noticeable in a group of individuals. It puts the environment in a peaceful state even when all is not well. Nice one father.
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Thanks a lot dear fro your comment. Let’s heal ourselves and the world around us with some bit of sincere laughter. God bless!
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Have you ever laughed when you feel down? How did you feel afterwards? There’s is this relief and comfort that comes with laughter and it can never be over emphasized. It’s not something that can be explained, it has to be experienced before one can totally understand and feel it’s beautiful effect.
Thanks Padre for this little piece.
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Thanks a lot Cheezey for your comment. I feel the questions returning to me, to probe (though in a positive way) my use of genuine laughter in my difficult moments. Of course, I do experience the relief it brings. God bless you. And please don’t ever stop laughing, no matter the challenges of life!
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