Martin Luther says that a theologian of the cross calls a thing what it is. In many cases, he must say that what the world calls good is wicked and what the world calls evil is good. I was aghast when I saw a large local Baptist emporium advertising a preaching series about being happy. I wondered if we could make everyone happy, would such happy people go to heaven? Was Jesus happy when they arrested Him in the Garden of Gethsemane?  When the Roman soldiers drove spikes through His hands on Calvary's hill? When they hoisted the crossbar on the upright with a thump jarring the beaten body of the victim with waves of pain? When the leaders of His people stood below His cross hurling curses and mockery at Him? When He breathed His last breath and with it cried out in triumph? Happy is not the word that immediately jumps into my mind when considering the execution scene at Calvary. Yet this decidedly unhappy occurrence was the divine will from eternity and deliberately carried out in time by God's own precious Son. God neither asked what would make Him or His creatures happy, but did what was necessary for our salvation in Christ. Christ came into the world for just this purpose. This was the culmination of His mission to save the world.

This runs counter to the world's wisdom that says when things are going well for us, our business is making lots of money, we are driving a new car, and have a large well-appointed home, that God must be blessing us, and that this must reflect God's good will for our lives. We equate our happiness with God's good will. Unfortunately, we could be happy all the way to hell. We sometimes look with envy upon those who live in large homes in tony neighborhoods, who drive new BMWs, and appear not to have a care in the world. Yet, in my experience as a parish pastor, such "happy" circumstances can easily become gilded prisons; where the focus is on the things of this world, and not upon the things of God's good will, which give community with God through faith in Christ, God's own beloved Son; forgiveness of sins, and the assurance of eternal life with Jesus. Such people are bereft of true divine blessedness. We should not envy mere happiness.

What has God called good and truly blessed? Poverty in spirit, grief, meekness, hunger for God's righteousness, mercifulness, purity of heart, and peace are the true gifts of God to the blessed. Ultimately, Jesus attributes blessedness to those who are reviled and persecuted for His sake: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account" (Mt 5:10-11). None of this blessedness is calculated to reward us with happiness. It takes divinely given strength to look upon this cross centered list of true blessedness and accept it as God's will for your life. Only God the Spirit can breathe into you the faith that seeks not mere happiness, but God's blessing. This is His good, acceptable, and perfect will. There is none better!