As a respite from the approaching end-of-the-school-year exam season this lesson will explore the phenomenon of the meme, a curious and humorous kind of visual message that has become—for most of us—an indispensable and spirit-lifting part of our daily communication.
We know we are human when we laugh. Our sense of humor, and our ability to laugh, are powers that God bestowed only to human beings. These powers require our intellects to first know the proper place and order of things in creation. Only then can we find joy, or delight, in the unexpected disproportion, or sudden reversal, of a comedic situation or speech.
Despite the state of the world, which will always be in ebb and flow between rest and upheaval, we know as Christians that true and eternal joy is ours, for Our Savior is risen and death has been defeated forever! The Easter season is a special reminder that we, too, shall rise again on the last day, for He has gone before us, “the first-fruits” of the resurrection. Christ has made a joke of death, and the last laugh is His!
The truth is, the world is sick and in need of the Divine Physician, and our joyful laughter is the best medicine.
First, have your students read over the Gospel passages in the Scripture Reflection activity, and either silently or in small groups, answer the reflection questions.
When they have finished, call on students or groups, to share their answers as part of a class discussion on how the Resurrection is our ultimate source of joy and hope, and the culmination of God’s loving plan for the salvation of mankind from the beginning. It is the ultimate fulfillment of the promise from the Book of Job, “Once more will [God] fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with rejoicing” (Job 8:21).
Then, arrange your students into groups of three or four. Have them compare and discuss what they read in the articles using the discussion questions.
Call on groups to share with the class some key points from their conversations as you review the answers with them
Allow the conversation to naturally arise as you lead a discussion on humor and its connection to the virtue of humility (sharing the same Latin root humus, which means “ground” or “soil”). Explain that humility allows us to take ourselves lightly, which is key to having a good sense of humor and true love of life. In stark contrast to this is vain pride which stifles humility, joy, and levity. Laughter may or may not be the best medicine, but the antidote to pride certainly begins with learning to laugh at ourselves!
Finally, share with your students the provided meme slideshow. As you go through the memes, discuss with your students what makes them humorous, and, if applicable, what point they are getting across to their audience.
Discussion Questions
What does Fr. Longenecker say our culture has often reduced humor to? Do you agree with him on this? Why or why not? He says that “our culture has too often reduced humor to sarcasm, smut and slapstick. There’s certainly room for satire in humor, but not cruelty and sarcasm, and smut just lowers the tone and slapstick is funny, but shallow.” Accept reasoned answers.
What does Fr. Longenecker say is often missing in the humor of our culture? How does laughter make us human? He says that “what we’re missing too often is the good, deep-down, belly shaking laughter that makes us human. What we’re missing is genuine wit…” Essentially, he says what the humor of our culture is missing is true joy—the joy of knowing that we are redeemed by Christ, and that we will rise again on the last day to behold God face to face. Accept reasoned answers. Laughter, true laughter, is a gift that God bestowed on humans alone out of all creation. It is one of the defining qualities of mankind, separating us from the animals and angels.
How does humor keep us “down to earth?” “‘Human’, ‘humor’ and ‘humility’ all come from the root ‘humus’ which means earth. So humor keeps us down to earth and the best kind of humor is based on our own recognized humanity and humility. Humor sees the incongruous and hilarious situation that we are creatures of mud with the souls of angels. It sees the sad and silly situation we’re in–mortals who are made for immortality–when the humor pokes fun at our vanity, pride, and self-importance it opens up a new perception of ourselves and our humanity.”
What does Fr. Longenecker say will attract people to the Faith? Do you agree with his advice that we should take heaven seriously but take ourselves lightly? Why or why not? “If we are to evangelize, then we need to open our hearts to the enthusiasm that comes with the Holy Spirit, and the root of the word ‘enthusiasm’ is the Greek en theos or ‘God within.’ This is what people will find attractive about our faith–not that we all become goofy comedians all the time, or (God forbid) that we priests become stand up comics, but that we start to evidence the quiet and deep joy that takes God and the business of heaven very seriously, but takes ourselves very lightly. Accept reasoned answers.
According to the article from National Catholic Register “Evangelizing With Humor,” what makes memes effective for evangelization? The article says that a meme “is visual, punching, has that cultural ‘pop’ in it and is sharable. People can link to it on Facebook and Twitter, and it can reach thousands of people.” “[T]he humor in Catholic memes helps remind Catholics that, despite the scandals in the Church, they can be joyful and lighthearted about their faith… memes also promote apologetics and create discussion in the comment boxes between faithful Catholics and non-Catholics because humor is ‘the easiest way to disarm people.’” The article relates that memes are a form of dialogue, that they are gentle persuaders, non-threatening, and could even be considered “mini-evangelization.” They use light-hearted humor to promote potentially deep and more meaningful conversations about the Faith.
How is a meme like an “in-house joke?” How does this resonate with your own experience? “[A] meme is like an ‘in-house joke’: It requires that the one who posts the meme and the one who receives it share a common culture. For that reason, memes have their own audience: Some will speak to Catholics; some will speak more broadly to Christians generally; some memes will just speak to people with a cultural familiarity of Christianity (like Noah’s Ark or Jesus delivering the Sermon on the Mount). ‘You have to have a common cultural touchstone. Otherwise, you’re speaking a foreign language,’ explained Sister Anne.” Accept reasoned answers.
Have you ever received or seen a meme that caused “belly shaking” laughter that Fr. Longenecker described? What about it did you think was humorous? Accept reasoned answers.
The article describes memes as opportunities for “mini-evangelization.” In your opinion, how can memes, specifically, help us share the joy of life in Christ with others? Accept reasoned answers.
According to the article “God’s Laughter,” how is Easter a celebration of “the ultimate practical joke?” It explains that in the story of the Passion of Christ, “the devil plays Master of the Universe, concocts a huge sure-fire scheme for killing off the last of these runty David types he has always loathed—and the whole thing backfires so cosmically that his empire of death is destroyed just as surely as Goliath and his former slaves and victims go off singing to become kings and queens who share in the life of God himself forever?I don’t care who you are, that’s funny. Satan makes Homer Simpson look like Einstein.”
What does the author claim is the “lowest sort of laughter”? Why is this kind of laughter dangerous for us to indulge? What is the one exception? Explain. “But, of course, derisive laughter is the lowest sort of laughter… it’s also a bit dangerous for us humans because it’s a kind of laughter that can deteriorate into haughtiness toward men and, worse still, the vinegary bitterness of mere flippancy if we are not careful.” The one exception is “when we are dealing with the devil since, as St. Thomas More said, ‘The devill… the prowde spirite… cannot endure to be mocked.’” The devil alone is worthy of our mockery and scorn, for he is utterly contemptible, and has been defeated by Christ. But all men and women we should treat with love and goodwill, as Christ Himself. Accept reasoned answers.
Based on the Scripture and articles you have read, explain in your own words what it means to have a good sense of humor. Where does it come from and what is necessary to keep it alive? Accept reasoned answers.
Do you think a good sense of humor is necessary in building strong relationships and evangelization? Why or why not? Accept reasoned answers.
Scripture Reflection
Job 8:21 Once more will [God] fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with rejoicing.
Psalm 126:2–3 Then our mouths were filled with laughter; our tongues sang for joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord had done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; Oh, how happy we were!
Proverbs 15:13 A glad heart lights up the face, but an anguished heart breaks the spirit.
Proverbs 31:10–11, 25 Who can find a woman of worth? Far beyond jewels is her value. Her husband trusts her judgement…She is clothed with strength and dignity, and laughs at the days to come.
Luke 6:21 “Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh.” Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
John 15:9–11 “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”
Reflection Questions
What do the passages above reveal about what God desires for His children?
Why do you think we laugh when we experience joy? What does Jesus say will complete our joy? Explain.
Do you think all laughter is healthy and appropriate? Why or why not?
Which of the passages above particularly stood out to you? Explain why.
