ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Pulelulu Fepueli 8, 2023

צחק The Divine Comedian

KO E KATA FAKA-’OTUA

GENESIS 18:10, 12

THE LORD SAID, "I WILL SURELY RETURN TO YOU ABOUT THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, AND SARAH YOUR WIFE SHALL HAVE A SON." AND SARAH WAS LISTENING AT THE TENT DOOR BEHIND HIM

12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” 

SENESI 18:10, 12

Pea me‘a ‘e ia, Te u mātu‘aki foki mai kiate koe ‘oka hoko hono taimi; pea ‘e ai leva ha tama ‘a Sela ko ho uaifi. Pea fanongo ki ai ‘a Sela mei he mata tēniti, ‘a ia na‘e ‘i hono takafalu

12 Pea kata ‘a Sela ‘i hono loto, he‘ene pehē, Ko e pehē koā ke u ma‘u fiemālie, ka kuo fai e vaivai, pea motu‘a mo e tangata‘eiki foki?

How could Sarah not laugh? God was being quite the comedian. At almost ninety years old, Sarah was as likely to get pregnant as a virgin was to conceive. So she tzachaq - she "laughed." But of course God had the last laugh. Or, rather, his divine laughter was infectious, for when her son was born, Sarah said, "God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will tzachaq over me" (21:6). All involved were cracking up, doubling over with delight at how insanely wonderful it all was. So what else would they name their son but Yitzchaq? Isaac is Laughter.

Christianity might have the reputation, in some circles, of being morose and ultraserious, but it is the faith of joy, delight, and-yes-laughter. The seeming impossibility of a ninety-year-old conceiving was followed finally by a virgin conceiving. We shake our heads and smile in wonder. God is up to something. Like a comedian waiting to deliver the punch line, God will eventually deliver the unexpected resurrection. All creation gasps with the happiness of irrepressible joy.

O Lord Jesus, fill our mouths with laughter and our tongues with shouts of joy (Ps. 126:2).