Burnt Toast

Showing love and kindness for others’ weaknesses

08/31/2022

LK 4:38-44 After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them. At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ. At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Sometimes we see things about other people that they don’t think we see. This especially happens between parents and children. For example, children eat candy in bed and hide their wrappers under their pillows. They think their parents don’t know their sweet secret, but do they? Of course they do. Students make Tik-Tok videos in the school bathroom with phones they should not have and think parents don’t see that, but do they? Yes, they do. And some smart priests even talk about that in their homilies.

But parents also are guilty of doing things they think their children do not see. For example, they fight and argue behind closed doors. They think their children don’t see or hear that, but do they? Yes, they do. In other words, it goes both ways. Just like you see things your parents think you can’t see, so your parents see things that you think they can’t see.

This seeing the hidden also happens in sports. Last week I watched the Trinity girls defeat Van Buren. Trinity girls could see the weakness on the other side of the volleyball net and took full advantage of it. The same happened Monday at the football game. Our coaches, quarterbacks and receivers could see the holes in the Liberty defense, even though they tried to hide them from us. And we won 20—8.

By the way, that is how my little high school in Little Rock, called Catholic High School, beat the mighty powerhouse of Northside in 1985 during the state championship. One of their cornerbacks was not very good, so we kept throwing passes over his head and scoring. They gave that cornerback the nickname “Toast” because he kept getting “burnt”. Catholic High won the State Championship because we could see what they thought was hidden.

In the gospel today, the devils see what is hidden about Jesus, namely, he is the Son of God. St. Luke writes: “And demons also came out from many, shouting, ‘You are the Son of God.” But notice how Jesus was trying to keep that secret hidden, like children hide candy wrappers under their pillows. St. Luke continues: “But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew he was the Christ.” Of course, Jesus did want them whole world to know who he was eventually, but only after his Resurrection. The devils were trying to spoil his master plan. Nonetheless, here again is an example of seeing what seems hidden.

Boys and girls, sometimes we see weaknesses or idiosyncrasies in others that they don’t want the world to know about. And I want you to treat those small secrets with great care, and not make fun of people for them. A friend of mine once told me that you should never make fun of people’s hair or their weight. That could really hurt someone’s feelings, even if you say, “Oh, I was just joking.” It’s okay to take advantage of other people’s hidden weaknesses in volleyball and football, but not in everyday life.

Seeing other people’s weaknesses is an opportunity for us to show we love them by being kind and caring to them. I will never forget that lesson when I was first ordained a priest. I went to lunch with my pastor, Msgr. Hebert, a very formal priest but who was also deeply wise and loving. One day at lunch he spilled a little mustard on his impeccable black clerical shirt, and I noticed it. I wasn’t sure if I should tell him, so I said nothing.

When we stood up to leave, he saw it, and asked why I didn’t say anything. I answered sheepishly, “Sorry, Monsignor.” He replied, “John, we do not have a wife to take care of us, so we have to take care of each other.” I will never forget that lesson of taking care of others when we see their small mistakes. So, if you want to help someone who has some mustard on their face, here’s what you do. First, catch their eye and just touch your chin with your finger. They will know what you mean. They will smile as a way of saying, “Thank you.” And you can wink back at them as a way of saying, “You’re welcome.”

And that is what the demons should have done with Jesus in the gospel today. They should have quietly whispered into Jesus’ ear, “We know you are the Son of God.” And Jesus would have nodded and smiled in order to say “Thank you.” And the demons should have winked back at Jesus, as if to say, “You’re welcome.” When you see a hidden fault or weakness in someone else, it is a chance to show them you love them. Otherwise, they will feel like “burnt toast.”

Praised be Jesus Christ!