Bodily Pleasures - Week 7: Thursday

Bible Passage

Ecclesiastes 2:1-3

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with merriment and see if this is good; and behold, this, too, is vanity.” I said concerning laughter, “This is madness,” and concerning merriment, “What does this accomplish?” I searched in my heart that I might excite my flesh as with wine. And my heart guided me with wisdom to grasp what is foolishness, until I might see what is good for the sons of men, that which they should do under the sun all the days of their life.

Commentary

St. Basil the Great

Those who live under discipline should avoid very carefully even such intemperate action as is commonly regarded lightly. Indulging in unrestrained and immoderate laughter is a sign of intemperance, of a want of control over one’s emotions, and of failure to repress the soul’s frivolity by a stern use of reason. It is not unbecoming, however, to give evidence of merriment of soul by a cheerful smile, if only to illustrate that which is written: “A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance,” but raucous laughter and uncontrollable shaking of the body are not indicative of a well-regulated soul, or of personal dignity, or self- mastery.