The Presence of the Lord: 1 Corinthians 16: 4-12, especially vs. 7:
"For I do not wish to see you now in the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits."
Father Arseny was a Russian priest, prisoner, and spiritual father to many in a special Soviet camp for incorrigibles. Inmates were deliberately sent to such camps to die. There is and account of a fist and knife fight in the prison barracks which he miraculously stopped in God's name. In the quiet after the clash, one of the prisoners, who earlier had threatened to kill Father Arseny, said to him, "Forgive me, Father Arseny. I doubted your God. I see now that He exists. It even scares me. A great power is given to one who believes in Him. Even I am frightened. Forgive me for making fun of you."
Beloved, how sad it is that so often our dull and blinded sight hinders us from seeing the Lord present in the myriad relationships, activities, and places through which we pass every day. Not so the Apostle Paul, however. In this reading, which is a personal closure written at the end of his First Corinthian Epistle, the Apostle discloses some of the ways in which he saw and knew God in the everyday events of his incessantly itinerant life.
The first evidence of St. Paul's sensitivity to the presence of God appears in his restraint in speaking about the future. "...if it is fitting that I go," he says tentatively. He is referring to a forthcoming journey to be taken by those who would bear relief offerings to the Christians in Jerusalem (vs. 4). With similar caution, he mentions that "it may be that I will remain or even spend the winter with you" (vs. 6). In expressing his hope of staying a while with the Corinthians, he says, "if the Lord permits" (vs. 7).
Concerning the travel of others, he says, "And if Timothy comes..." (vs. 10). The cumulative effect of these remarks demonstrates both an openness to change on his part and a hesitancy to be absolute in his planning. It is not that he does not think of the future, nor consider what would be best, nor have his own desires. Rather, he evinces that special caution expected of one whose life and activities were not in his own hands.
On the face of it, the Apostle's hesitancy is surprising, given his obvious position of authority in the Church. Notice how forthright he is with them: "For I do not wish to see you now on the way" (vs. 7). Also, he does not hesitate to issue orders: "...see that [Timothy] may be with you without fear," and "let no one despise him" (vss. 10,11). He commands freely: "send him on his journey in peace." Of course, the factor that holds St. Paul back, and that keeps him fluid in relation to his future, is his keen awareness of the presence of the Lord.
The Lord intervenes actively in the Apostle's plans, which can be seen plainly in an "aside" at verse 7: "if the Lord permits." The remark reveals that God is in charge of his life and makes his plans. It discloses that St. Paul submitted all his decisions to the will of the Lord. Such "divine management" is possible only as one has become responsive to God's presence in his life. When St. Paul says he will "tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost" (vs. 8), he explains the reason: "For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries" (vs. 9). A man who is sensitive to the presence of God in life sees all the opportunities and the opposition that meet him as being within God's design. To use the words of Metropolitan Philaret's prayer: "In unforeseen events let me not forget that all are sent by Thee." Let us set aside the world's belief that we should be in charge of life, and let us embrace the Apostle's mode of admitting that every detail in life is known to God, permitted by Him, and utilized for the advancement of His Kingdom. When we accept the truth that God's will governs all things, we know the joy of having Him guide our thoughts and feelings in all we do and say. Guided always by Thy will, may we ascribe glory unto Thee, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.