In the sayings of Jesus, commonly referred to as the Beatitudes, Jesus says things that seem somewhat strange to our ears (as they were to Luke’s original audience as well): blessed are the poor, blessed are the hungry, blessed are those who mourn. And then on the other side of that, woe to those who are rich, woe to the full, woe to those who are happy now. Why is there blessing in these things that people often try to avoid and woe in the things we often strive for? Could it be that the very need we are trying to avoid could be the position that opens our eyes to see God and thus receive his blessing?