Paul wrote….

It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgement before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God. (From the Daily Office Readings, Mar. 3, 2012, 1 Corinthians 4:4b-5)

St. Paul gave this assurance of God’s commendation to the Corinthians in a discussion which included this reminder, “For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future – all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.” (1 Cor. 3:21b-4:1) In other words, it’s all about relationship, and how we manage and maintain our relationships will be the basis of God’s judgment. Eugene Peterson in his The Message paraphrases these words, “You are privileged to be in union with Christ, who is in union with God.” It is our relationship, our union with God in Christ that Paul describes as “God’s mysteries.” I recently read another blogger’s suggestion that the way to enhance intimacy in a relationship was to maintain some mystery in it. I believe that blogger is right and that our mysterious relationship with God is the most intimate relationship possible. Lent is a time to explore the mysteries of your relationship with God in Christ, to bring to light things in darkness and to disclose the purposes of both your heart and God’s.