A few years ago, I attended a cousin’s wedding in which the chosen Gospel passage was the well-known Beatitudes. After the priest finished proclaiming the Gospel, my only thought was “will he preach on the word ‘makarioi’?” That is the Greek word which begins each line of the beatitudes and most often gets translated “blessed” from the Latin beati. The preacher that day did in fact comment on the first word, however he chose the word “happy” as an alternative translation and I was left so disappointed. 

Happiness and joy are two very different emotions. There needs to be a clear understanding of distinguishing between happiness and joy to help enrich our spirituality.

You can be joyful at a funeral, although you probably shouldn’t be too happy at a funeral. 

You will experience happiness during a baseball game when your team scores a run, but that happiness may fade minutes later. However, often the joy of going to a baseball game with your family remains forever. 

First time parents are filled with both joy and happiness as they hold their baby. That joy lasts forever, although the happiness inevitably fades at times with sleepless nights and overflowing diapers.

I first came across this distinction while reading Glen Stassen during my senior year of undergrad:

“These teachings are called the beatitudes because they begin with the Greek word makarioi (beatus in Latin), meaning blessed, happy, hopeful, or joyful. I translate makarioi as “joyful” because in its fifty occurrences in the New Testament it almost always means the joy of participation in God’s action of deliverance. In the Old Testament, it usually promises future consolation to people in dire straits— meaning, whatever present situation is difficult will be reversed and justice, peace, and joy will break in. It is not simply “happy” in the sense of being in an upbeat mood. God is acting to deliver us, and we have the experience of being part of what the LORD of the universe is doing, who brings redemption and deliverance. This is where it connects with the joy that is one of the seven characteristics of God’s reign.” 

In addition to the alternative translations offered by Stassen, the prestigious scripture scholar Raymond Brown offers ‘fortunate’ as another translation. Brown adds that:

“The NT sentences in which the adjectival words are used, e.g., the Beatitudes, are called macarisms (from makarios). They do not confer a blessing but recognize an existing state of happiness or blessing; they are an approving proclamation, often signifying that eschatological joy has come.”

I invite you to pray with the translation below of the beatitudes that use the word ‘joyful’ rather than ‘blessed.’ How do you participate in this joy? Have there been moments when you settled for a faith that brings you happiness rather than the pervasive joy that Jesus preached on and ultimately led to his crucifixion? Does using the word ‘joyful’ as an alternative translation leave you uncomfortable? Or does it offer new and exciting perspectives? Do you prefer blessed, joyful, happy, hopeful, or fortunate?

Further scripture for reflection:

• Matthew 5:3-12 “Joyful are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Joyful are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Joyful are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Joyful are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Joyful are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Joyful are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Joyful are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Joyful are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Joyful are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
• Luke 1:45 “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
• Luke 1:48 “from now on all generations will call me blessed.”
• Luke 11:27-28 “While he was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”
• Luke 14:14 “blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
• John 20:29 “Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
• John 13:17 “If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.”

Sources: 

Glen H. Stassen, “The Beatitudes,” in Living the Sermon on the Mount. A Practical Hope for Grace and Deliverance (San Francisco: Jossey- Bass, 2006), pp. 38-39

Raymond Brown, “The Birth of the Messiah”, 1977, DoubleDay, New York, pg. 333