MAY202017

The report of St. Paul’s second missionary journey as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles is, of course, written years later, in hindsight. Thus, for example, when we read “they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit from preaching the message in the province of Asia” we probably should not imagine some direct revelation from God steering Paul in a certain direction. Rather some hindrance (a bridge washed out? a road under construction?) was interpreted years later as the Spirit guiding them. Like Paul, we must make choices today as best we can based on the information that we have. Only upon further reflection will we be able to discern the hand of God at work leading us where we need to be.