A Cause for Laughter

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator

Because of yesterday's feast, we missed a chapter of the Book of Genesis in the Lectionary for Mass. If we had read that chapter, we would have been introduced to the new names of both Abram and Sarai, now called Abraham and Sarah. There are several instances in the Scriptures of name changing. In addition to Abram and Sarai, Jacob will become Israel. In the Gospels, Jesus gives Simon the new name of Peter. These changes signal something new. Names are given at birth, and new names signal a new beginning.

Actually the changes from Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah are not all that great. The new spelling and new pronunciation do not change the root meaning of the names. Sarai or Sarah means princess. Abram and Abraham both mean the father or sire of many. However, the change is significant not because of their meanings, but because of the fact that what is accomplished after the name change is accomplished by God, not by the individuals involved. The story of Abraham and Sarah leaves no question that the child that is generated is conceived by God's power. Abraham and Sarah are well beyond childbearing age. God intervenes in their personal history and changes their destinies.

The prediction that Sarah will become a mother causes her to laugh in derision. As a result, Abraham names the son that she bears "Isaac," a name that means "laughter." So even the child's name bears witness to the fact that God is responsible.

A clever one-liner that I have heard repeated many times runs something like this: "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans." The tables are turned in today's reading from Genesis. God's plan causes Sarah to laugh. Like so many of us, she has forgotten who is in control.

Today's Gospel reading, the familiar story of the healing of the centurion's servant, drives home the point. Nothing is impossible with God. As St. Paul reminds us, nothing is impossible for us if we rely on the power of Jesus.