Psalm Reflection: The Sixth Sunday of Easter - Cycle B

“The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.” - Psalms 98

Have you heard the term toxic masculinity?

It is sometimes used to demonize anything seen as traditionally masculine as misogynistic and politically incorrect. That approach is problematic, as we cannot throw the baby out with the bath water. If someone offered you a toxic cheeseburger, you would not think there was something wrong with all cheeseburgers, you simply would not eat the one offered to you. Masculinity is good and beautiful and necessary, it is not inherently toxic. However, being a man does not mean dominating or having power, and certainly not by exerting power in a violent or aggressive way. That is toxic.

Jesus, however, was the ultimate man. He came as a humble carpenter instead of a rich and powerful emperor. Jesus did not amass earthly power and wealth to exert dominance over the world. Instead, He took on our sin and allowed Himself to be humiliated on the cross, thereby saving the world. It was through humility and sacrifice, not dominance and aggression, that Jesus defeated sin and death. In doing so, Jesus offered us a model to follow. 

The Psalmist proclaims that, “the Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.” Jesus came and made Himself known, and sparked the single greatest movement and shift in history. However, we still have a responsibility to remind those who have forgotten, or who have a false idea of God or the Church, to the Lord’s saving power.

How do we do that? Humbly and through sacrifice, not through dominance or aggression. We do not need power or influence to share the Gospel. We do not need to be gifted speakers or theologians to share the Lord’s saving power with others. We simply need to acknowledge our own need for God and not fall into the trap of thinking we are better than anyone else.  It is as St. Paul says: “I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). 

It is God who does the work of conversion and salvation, not us. The more we recognize our own weaknesses and limitations, the more we acknowledge our need for a Savior. The power and redemption of the cross is made known to others when we are willing to humble ourselves before God.

This week, make some small sacrifice for someone in your life who needs the Lord. Fast and pray for them. Do things for them without anyone knowing, and let your sacrifices be silent offerings for their salvation. 

Evangelization is not about having a TED Talk ready to go at a moments notice, nor is it about proving other people wrong. The life of an evangelist should be littered with small, unseen sacrifices for others, because in order to share the Gospel we must first live in response to it. The Good News is that we have a Savior, and He is not toxic. He does not barge into our lives forcibly or unannounced. He respects our free will and comes when He is invited. We can provide a path for that invitation.

We can listen.

We can be humble and admit our weaknesses.

We can forgive others and seek forgiveness.

We can sacrifice is unseen ways.

We can have compassion and empathy.

We can seek to understand.

We can meet people where they are at and bring Jesus to them.

We can live in a way that makes heads turn (in a good way).

We can be examples of Christ’s humility to bring the ultimate instrument of His humility, the cross, to those who are desperate for forgiveness and transformation.

This begins with us being bold in the ways we serve and love others, and looking to the cross as our guide. The truly awesome power of Christ is never dominating, but it is made known through weakness. For when we are weak, we are strong, and the saving power of Christ is made known.

I am praying for you please pray for me, and I will see you in the Eucharist.

Matt

This reflection is based on the Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday, May 5th, 2024, which is The Sixth Sunday of Easter - Cycle B: Psalms 98:1, 2-3, 3-4.