Sunday Sermon

It never ceases to amaze me how at times Sunday’s Gospel reading and sermon can be so on point. It is almost as though God is answering me even before I have formed the question in my heart.

Over and over again I see posts on Social Media about how we should walk away from toxic people without so much as a backward glance. That is something I struggle with. Isn’t toxic behavior simply a symptom of a much larger problem? When someone behaves badly, aren’t they really revealing a broken part of themselves? When we walk away from someone, aren’t we further contributing to their brokenness?

For the longest time I thought it was my job as a Christian to continue to stay close to the toxic people in my life. I got it in my head that if we are merciful and forgiving to someone who behaves badly, by our example they might know the difference. It turns out, that’s not entirely true. There is a difference between compassion for someone and enabling someone. When a toxic person is not forced to face the consequences for their bad behavior, there is no reason for change.

During a recent Sunday Sermon, I felt God gently speak to my heart on this very subject. For the longest time, I have allowed someone to act in a selfish, harmful way. Not once did I point out the error of their ways, convinced that if I were to respond to selfish behavior by giving more, that it would somehow bring about change. This was bad for everyone concerned – for my Husband, for Kiddo and for the person who was behaving badly. Yet I kept offering my hand in friendship. The reading that particular Sunday was the Gospel of Saint Matthew 18:21-35.

Peter approaches Jesus to ask how many times must we forgive someone who has sinned against us. Should we stop at seven time? Isn’t that enough? The answer was not seven times but seventy-seven times. In other words, you just keep on forgiving. For the longest time, I thought this means you keep a toxic, hurtful person in your life no matter what. For me this passage only reinforced what I had come to believe. (And this is exactly why the Church has teachings rather than to let us draw our own conclusions).

Father Sam stood quiet before the congregation, searching our faces. Did we understand the difference between forgiveness and enabling? Yes, forgive. Always forgive. If we cannot forgive, we cannot ask that we be forgiven. However; this does not mean you remain silent in the face of bad behavior. Behaving badly is a sin. As Christians we should treat sinful people with kindness, and compassion; a toxic person is not in a healthy place. Forgive them, for they know not what they do. That doesn’t mean you should allow a toxic person to continue to do harm. There are consequences for our actions. You can tell someone that you love them BUT you cannot stand by and allow their bad behavior to go unchecked. When we say nothing, we are condoning that behavior. Sometimes we need to speak the truth with compassion and forgivness, and if that person cannot or will not see their actions for what they are, then walk away. It does not mean you’ve abandoned them, you just can’t be an enabler any longer. It’s in God’s hands now.

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Ham and Mushroom Omelette Perfection
Per Omelette
1/2 cup minced Ham
1/4 cup minced White Onion
1/4 cup sliced White Mushrooms
1 slice Pepper Jack Cheese
2 Eggs
Pinch Salt
Cracked Pepper to taste
Olive Oil as needed

Finely dice or mince ham. Peel an onion, finely mince. Clean mushrooms, finely mince. Cut Pepper Jack Cheese into narrow strips. Set aside. Whip eggs with a pinch of salt and cracked pepper. Set aside.

In a small sauté pan, heat just a drizzle of olive oil, just enough to lightly coat the bottom of the pan. Add the ham, onion and mushroom to the pan. Sauté the mixture until heated through, keep warm.

In a small crepe or omelette pan, melt just a dab of butter over medium-low heat. Swirl the pan to lightly coat in the melted butter. Pour the whipped eggs into the pan, swirl to spread the egg out like a thin crepe. Cook over low heat, shaking and swirling the pan to allow the egg to begin to set without browning or over-cooking. With a silicone spatula, gently push the omelette toward the center, allowing the uncooked egg to run toward the edge. Repeat until all the egg has set.

Spoon the ham mixture onto half of the omelette. Top the strips of cheese. Gently fold the empty side over the filled side. Slide from the pan onto warm plate and enjoy.

Classic Shredded Potatoes
3 Russet Potatoes
4 tablespoons Butter
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
Salt to taste
Black Pepper to taste
Smoked Paprika, optional to taste
Cayenne Pepper, optional to taste

Shred potatoes into a large bowl filled with cold water. Stir until water is cloudy, drain, and cover potatoes again with fresh cold water. Stir again to dissolve excess starch. Drain potatoes well, pat dry with paper towels, and squeeze out any excess moisture.

Heat butter with oil in a large non-stick pan over medium heat. Sprinkle shredded potatoes into the hot butter. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. If looking for a little more kick or smoky flavor, season with smoked paprika and cayenne pepper to taste.

Cook potatoes undisturbed until a brown crust forms on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Continue to cook, stirring as needed until potatoes are browned all over, about 7 more minutes.

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Remember that Your compassion, O LORD,
and Your love are from of old.