Psychiatrist Robert Coles tells a story about a poor black woman in New Orleans who sells her body almost every night to wealthy old men in order to take care of her five children. And each night this woman takes half of what she earns as a prostitute and gives it to the nuns who run the local soup kitchen. Coles asks the question, “Is this woman blessed or is she cursed?” From her perspective, I’m sure the answer is both. But from the perspective of today’s gospel lesson, she is more blessed than she is cursed.

The entire spectrum of biblical scholars — from conservative to liberal — agree that the words of the Beatitudes form the very core of Jesus’ ministry. Yes, these no-nonsense words give to us his central wisdom, his focused vision, and his principle mandate.

Both the gospel of Lu…