Every Valentine’s Day pre-teens across the United States and other parts of the world will obsess over the meaning of trite Valentine Day cards and candy hearts:

Does he really like me?! He gave me the “You Shine” candy heart. You Shine?! What does that even mean?!

Why did she give me the “You’re Dino-Mite” card? I think she likes dinosaurs, so does this mean she likes me too?

Wait, is the, “You make more than just my Spidey-senses tingle,” card a good sign or a bad sign?

Can we relate to those who read too much into these corny Valentine’s Day greetings? Do we question the motives of those who bestow Valentines upon us? Do we become, like the person described in our first reading, of two minds, unstable in all our ways: she loves me, he loves me not? Do we become filled with self-doubt, driven and tossed about by the wind?

If only we had the faith to see things as they truly are. God showers down Valentines upon our lives each day and yet we often fail to see them. Instead of seeing the beautiful new day, we see the shadows. Instead of welcoming the new challenge that could draw us closer to God, we complain and gripe. Good things (like candy hearts) fall into our laps, but we reject them. We fail to read the signs like a clichéd Valentine card.

The Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign and Jesus simply sighs from the depth of his spirit. This reading takes place immediately after Jesus fed 4,000 people with seven loaves, which is a lot of Valentines! That act of generosity was a huge sign, but the Pharisees’ hardness of heart prevented them from seeing what was right in front of them.

When our focus is on God, then we can see things as they truly are. Trials and hardships, as James tells us, become the occasion for joy because they purify our faith, develop our character, and help us cultivate perseverance. When our focus is on God, we recognize the good things in our lives (like discounted Valentine’s Day chocolate!) and respond with gratitude instead of doubt and suspicion. Today we ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, for the wisdom to see things as they truly are.