Sense of humor

A man enters a strict monastery. On his first day the abbot says, "You'll be able to speak only two words every five years. Do you understand?" The novice nods and goes away.
Five years later the abbot calls him into his office. "Brother," he says, "You've done well these last five years. What would you like to say?"
And the monk says, "Food cold!"
"Oh, I'm sorry," says the abbot. "We'll fix that immediately."
Five years later the monk returns to the abbot.
"Welcome, Brother," says the abbot."What would you like to tell me after 10 years?"
And the monk says, "Bed hard!"
And the abbot says, "Oh, I'm so sorry. We'll fix that right away."
Then after another five years the two meet. The abbot says, "Well, Brother you've been here 15 years. What two words would you like to say?"
"I'm leaving," he says.
And the abbot says, "Well, I'm not surprised. You've done nothing but complain since you got here!"
In a book I'm reading, "Between Heaven and Mirth" the author, a Jesuit priest emphasizes that God loves people with a sense of humor, if they apply it in a mirthful way.
Sometimes we attach stiffness of purpose and a lack of a sense of humor to the religious.
As the Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said, "Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God."
Or  as the Protestant theologian Karl Barth said, "Laughter is the closest thing to God's grace."
It's one of God's enjoyments I'm sure to see Christians and Jews laughing and having fun.
So, as we all will be very solemn during the upcoming Passion week we must also keep in mind that a little humor can ease the pains and sorrows we sometimes must endure.
I've found another joke to share tomorrow.