stewards

1 corinthians 4:1-5; Ps 37 The salvation of the just comes from the Lord; Luke 5:33-39

A few words form St. Paul

"Thus should one regard us: as servants of CHrist and stewards of the mysteries of God.  NOw it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy....therefore do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God."


Stewards of the mysteries of  God....

Think about that for a moment.

A steward is one who: manages the property of another; administers anything as agent of another; watches over the domestic concerns of another; responsible for the comfort and safety of passengers on a plane or ship or train etc.

All of these can be used to describe our roles as disciples.

We are all on a journey, a pilgrimage.  We are all traveling from this life to the life to come.  We are all on a ride.

God has seen fit to make sure this ride has necessary stewards to ensure safety and comfort of passengers.

We have been equipped, like a stewardess on a plane.  We are there not just for the ride but to be present and helpful for others.

We are agents of God.
We are agents of the mysteries of God.  What mysteries?
The mystery of God refers to God himself.  We make God present with our life choices.

It was once said that a every christian will be a mystic or nothing at all.
A mystic is one who enters into communion with Go union of human soul with divine on earth,  and allows that communion radiate through their lives for the sake of others.

Most mystics of the church are associated with the suffering of Christ.  Often times we seem them with the stigmata.  The suffering of Christ is a revelation of GOd's love for humanity.


A steward of God is a mystic, the one who brings the mystery of God with them.  We must bring that love to bear on all we do and say.

We live in mystery and thus we are mystics and stewards.

 A just a bit on the last phrase of Paul's words "then everyone will receive praise from God."

We often say, how could God send anyone to hell.  What kind of loving God is that.  SO we find ourselves in our current society dismissing hell all together.  This is a problem.

HEll is a real possibility.  As St. Paul mentions, in the end the true motivations of the heart will be revealed.  In other words, we are not fooling anyone, only fooling ourselves.

Our inner attitude is always exposed to the light of Christ.

But even in the end, final judgment, when it is all said and done and the smoke clears and the dust settles, our condemnation or salvation, will be "praise for God."  God's justice and God's mercy will be united in that instant of judgment and thus "praise" shall rise.

Just something tot think about as we kick against the notion of hell.  Hell is real because God's justice not our justice reigns.