Tuesday, April 1, 2008

 

Living for God Series

 

Luke 19:9 “Today salvation has come to this house.” 

 

Honey, I’m Pregnant

 

Has someone played a trick on you today?   This, of course, is April Fools’ Day.  It is a light-hearted day of celebration in that people can play tricks on each other without any sense of it being malicious.  

 

There is a legend that the origin of April Fools’ Day is that Constantine, the Roman Emperor, was told by a group of court jesters that they could do a better job of running the Empire.  So the story goes that Constantine allowed one of the jesters to rule his empire for one day, which happened to be the first day of April.  

 

My father once upon a time sent me to a certain store to ask for a skyjack on April Fools Day.  He said in a very grim voice to be sure to bring it to work.  I went to the business after school and asked for the skyjack.   And of course, the man said there was no such thing.  I told him my father said there was a skyjack to pick up that was ordered there.  The salesman called the manager who said he had not talked to my father about it.   I called my Dad and said, “Dad, there is no skyjack here.”  So my Dad asked to put the manager on the phone.  The manager started laughing and he said, “Oh yes, there is a skyjack here after all and I will bring it out for you.”  The man hastily wrote on a piece of paper and attached it to a broom, “Happy April Fools’ Day, Son.”     

 

The worst April Fools joke that was ever played on any human being was inflicted upon me by my sweet wife, Averette.   I, of course had forgotten it was April Fools Day.   A couple of years ago I came in from my run and Averette said, “Honey, I don’t know how to tell you this.  I have been to the doctor and it seems I’m expecting triplets.  They say that they are all girls.”    Evidently, my face reflected sheer horror at the idea.  Averette laughed and said, “April Fools’, Honey.”   I don’t remember thinking it was particularly funny and I told her she wouldn’t think it was funny if I dropped dead on the kitchen floor.    

 

Once upon a time, Jesus was walking down a road to Jericho.   Zacchaeus the hated tax collector wanted to see Jesus but he knew the people would treat him badly.  Zacchaeus climbed the tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus.    No doubt, Zacchaeus thought it was a joke when Jesus said, “Today I am going to eat lunch at your house.”    The people began to mutter and Zacchaeus said, “I will give half of my possessions to the poor and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay him back four times the amount.”  It all sounded like an April Fools’ joke but instead Jesus surmised, “Today, salvation has come to this house.”

 

Prayer:

Dear God,   help me to know that your love is never a joke.  Amen.