James 1:1-11 / Mark 8:11-13 (2020)
Blessings and disguises are not usually co-related.
Disguises have an outward appearance that tries to distort the reality.
Blessings, although intangible, are nonetheless signs of truth and goodness.
So does it make sense when we hear it said "It's a blessing in disguise"?
The 1st reading tells us that when trials come, we must try to treat them as a happy privilege.
When trials come, they don't seem anything like a blessing in disguise, especially with this COVID-19 virus outbreak.
Yet we are encouraged to see beyond the trials and be patient so that we can see what truth and goodness the trials open us to.
Yet trails make us groan and sigh as they cut deeper and deeper into our hearts and our flesh.
In the gospel we hear that Jesus responded with a sigh from the heart when the Pharisees demanded a sign from Him so as to test Him.
Certainly the obstinacy of the Pharisees was very trying for Jesus.
The sigh from His heart showed what kind of trial He was going through.
Would Jesus also sigh over us? Or would He want to bless us because of our faith in Him?
Let us remove the disguises of our hearts and let His blessings flow into our lives, and may Jesus quickly deliver us from this virus outbreak.