Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Evangelizing With Humor: © Sophia Institute For Teachers
Evangelizing With Humor: © Sophia Institute For Teachers
Evangelizing With Humor: © Sophia Institute For Teachers
Overview
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.
● Explore what Scripture and the saints teach us about the importance of joy and
laughter in the life of a Christian.
● Consider why memes spark laughter, and how they can effectively and persuasively
make a point.
● Contemplate why followers of Christ possess a joy that cannot be diminished.
● Discuss the role of humor and laughter in our mission of evangelization.
● Search for and share funny Catholic memes that convey the truth using humor such
as irony, sarcasm, or puns.
Resources:
Levity and Gravity, from Catholic Exchange:
https://catholicexchange.com/levity-gravity
Activities:
● 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).
Answer Key
Discussion Questions
Part II
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. “‘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.”
4. “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
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
1. What do the passages above reveal about what God desires for His children?
2. Why do you think we laugh when we experience joy? What does Jesus say will
complete our joy? Explain.
3. Do you think all laughter is healthy and appropriate? Why or why not?
4. Which of the passages above particularly stood out to you? Explain why.
Articles
Discussion Questions
1. What does Fr. Longenecker say our culture has often reduced humor to? Do you
agree with him on this? Why or why not?
2. What does Fr. Longenecker say is often missing in the humor of our culture? How
does laughter make us human?
3. How does humor keep us “down to earth?”
4. 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?
5. According to the article from National Catholic Register “Evangelizing With
Humor,” what makes memes effective for evangelization?
6. How is a meme like an “in-house joke?” How does this resonate with your own
experience?
7. 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?