James Martin, SJ
Holy people are joyful people, says Father Martin, offering countless examples of healthy humor and purposeful levity in the stories of biblical heroes and heroines, and in the lives of the saints and the world's great spiritual masters. He shows us how the parables are often the stuff of comedy, and how the gospels reveal Jesus to be a man with a palpable sense of joy and even playfulness. In fact, Father Martin argues compellingly, thinking about Jesus without a sense of humor may be close to heretical.
I borrowed this from the library because it was referenced in a book about the creation of the musical Godspell. It's got some good jokes and stories in it, but overall takes its lighthearted subject matter fairly seriously. So much so that it became kind of a drag-myself-through-it experience to read. But it makes a good case for people to lighten up and actually enjoy their faith instead of shuffling through life as if they'd been baptized in pickle juice.
First line: Mike is one of the funniest people I know.
Page 56, 5th line: During the first few hundred years of the church, questions about the identity of Jesus occupied bishops, theologians, and laypersons, all of whom were struggling to understand just who this man - or who this God - was.
Last line: And laugh with the God who smiles when seeing you, rejoices over your very existence, and takes delight in you, all the days of your life.
