In one of his recent podcasts, Paul Zahl says that "this facade of human existence is in fact a comedy...an elaborate role play of egos that are trying to find a place to stand in a secondary object whether it be a career, a woman, a child...it's all on sand." He notes that so few ever see this. He said that it makes him view death in a good light, because he will be liberated from his petty ego--"I want to leave behind Paul Zahl...ugh."
Jesus tried to bring this insight to people's attention. He regularly pointed out the humor and irony in what so many believed about themselves and this life. Take for example his reply to the Pharisees about fasting. Jesus first told them that his disciples did not fast, because He, Jesus, was present. If fasting is meant to be a way to grieve over our sins which distance us from God, how could you grieve when God is actually in your presence? Last nite, when I was reading this account, I finally got the humor and comedy of his comment. In other words, if you folks really realized who I am, you would be partying (like the wedding feast), not fasting in an effort to show your piety. Jesus does this time and time again, trying to help us dissociate ourselves from our egos, from our need to be right, from our self-importance, from our self-righteousness, from our self-absorbed piety.
When, from time to time, I actually grasp this secret, actually see the desires of my ego as comedic, I experience true joy. Being liberated from the bondage of the ego, both in this life and the next, is the greatest gift that one can receive.
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