“Mazel tov! Good luck,” the wedding guests shout after the groom has ceremonially crushed a glass with his right foot. The celebration can begin. Today is a day to be happy. Thoughts on the International Day of Happiness.
Jewish weddings traditionally end with the breaking of a glass, a rite hinting that all relationships and human endeavour is fragile. A “drip from above” is the literal meaning of “mazel”. So there is no need for a wine glass! When God pours out His blessing from heaven, there is an abundance.
The theological relevance of happiness is perceptible in broad outlines, depending on how the term is understood or in which context it is used. Happiness is tied to a moment of achievement, a successful outcome. It is no longer simply destiny, but success and good fortune. “Happiness” in English derives from “hap”, the old Norse word for fortune or luck. It is a welcome coincidence, a good fortune. When something succeeds, people are happy.
Happy are …
In some European countries, people smash porcelain plates before a wedding. But why does something have to be broken to bring good fortune? We talk about a blessing in disguise. For a believer, this is where God comes into play. He is attacked when a project fails and blamed when our own destiny casts its dark shadow. Yet God is a God of happiness, of good fortune and happy endings. The beatitudes in Matthew 5 speak to the point.
These quotations describe stages like on a pilgrimage and are processes of a successful life. The Greek text speaks of makarios, which means happy, fortunate, or blessed. The beatitudes tell us: we human beings experience God’s solidarity and live in, with, and through His justice. A new awareness of life takes hold of the idea of the kingdom of God—a re-evaluation: He (my God) is present regardless of momentary circumstances and orientated towards eternal salvation. It is not the punishing God who is to blame for our failure. But it is the loving God who saves us from misfortune and disaster. He is the transcendent rear door in my reality.
Think about the future …
From a theological perspective, happiness will therefore always be described as a transcendental experience, of going beyond. In unhappy moments, another horizon opens up, one that surpasses our own reality. Of course, one has to believe in it, even if psychologists say that faith makes you happy. And what’s more, attending divine services makes you happy because you can feel the presence of God there. Praise, prayer, the singing of hymns, being able to count on God’s grace during Holy Communion are good luck charms in a Christian’s everyday life.
Guide to happiness
Be grateful (example: “Now thank we all our Lord”). Keep your optimism (example: “Optimism is the will for the future”, Dietrich Bonhoeffer). Do not compare your situation with that of others (example: “The labourers in the vineyard”, Matthew 20: 1–16). Practise social interaction (example: “Love your neighbour as yourself”, Matthew 22: 39). Learn to forgive (example: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”, Matthew 6: 12). And enjoy the pleasures of life (example: “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”, Matthew 6: 26).
This is not a cookbook for happiness. These are tips from the Bible for a successful life as a follower of Jesus. Especially in our challenging world full of turmoil our faith has so much to offer us(!) Comfort in threats and setbacks; we do not have to question our happiness. The silver lining in our cloud is the crucifixion of Jesus and His resurrection. In this spirit: “Mazel tov!”
International Day of Happiness
On 20 March each year, the United Nations declares the International Day of Happiness aims at public awareness-raising activities that lead to greater degree of community, the well-being of all peoples, and education. The pursuit of happiness is not a trivial topic, but a leitmotif to be taken seriously and should remind us of the importance of happiness and well-being as an objective in people’s lives.
According to the World Happiness Report, the happiest people in the world live in Finland. Why? According to this report, this is closely linked to the reliability and extent of social services, a low corruption rate, and a well-functioning democracy.
Foto: S_Chatcharin – stock.adobe.com