In his book, South Carolina Off The Beaten Path, William Fox tells an apocryphal story of two wealthy Charleston matrons who escaped Charleston's oppressive heat by summering in Paris. When they fell upon hard times and could no longer afford Paris they shuttered themselves inside their home, venturing out only at night to catch the ocean breeze. One night a boy recognized them and was ready to greet them, when his mother stopped him by saying, "No, son. We can't talk to them, they're spending the summer in Paris." (1)

When it comes to hearing the blessings and woes of Jesus, there's a temptation to be like those Charleston matrons, pretending that we're hearing something different from what Jesus is saying.

Jesus begins with words we like: "Blessed are . . ." So far so good. Who doesn't…