Sermon online 2026-04-19 Sarah Laughed

“Sarah Laughed,” Rev. Dr. Mark Caggiano, 4/19/26
Genesis 18:9-15; Luke 24:13-35

Sarah denied [it], saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
Sarah denied that she had laughed, because she was afraid. Afraid of what? Afraid of laughing at
God. Afraid of suggesting that God could not do what had been promised.

People do not often laugh in the Bible, and by that, I mean laughing out of happiness or joy.
Laughter is in there, but it is often a matter of scorn. It is a question of derision, laughing at
something rather than laughing with someone.

Sarah here is laughing at the notion that she could become pregnant. We heard that “Abraham
and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.”
In less Biblically obscure words, Sarah had gone through menopause. And she was probably
around 90 years old.

We might imagine someone of that age getting pregnant as a bit far-fetched. Sarah clearly did.
And so, she laughed, because it was a ridiculous idea. She laughed and then denied doing so
because you do not laugh at God. Because, again, laughing in the Bible is not about joy. It is
about contempt.

The Bible is not a normal book. It serves a purpose and that is not entertainment. I am sure it
might be entertaining for some people, and whatever floats your boat, who am I to judge. Well,
actually, in this moment I am exactly the person judging because this is my sermon. And in my
sermon, the Bible is not about joy or laughter, but moral guidance, religious introspection, and
cautionary tales…