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The Mission St. Clare website provides us with the readings for the Feast Day of Peter and Paul today (even though that was yesterday).
In the second lesson provided for today's Daily Office readings, Peter is taught through the intervention of the Spirit that Jesus came to Gentiles as well as Jews. When he is visited by three Gentiles, he receives these clear instructions: "The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us." Acts 11:12
As a witness to the Resurrection and Pentecost, Peter was attuned to the Spirit's guidance. In our era, the competing messages firing at us from all directions make it difficult to hear the voice of God. Not only are we bombarded with external inputs from news and social media, we hear a barrage of internal messages. When we feel driven by virtue to do this or that, it could be God or it could be ego, convincing us to be more brash than really serves God's purposes.
How can we tell when the Spirit is behind an irresistible impulse? Over years of trial with lots of error, I've identified these helpful hints: #1 - Travel with faithful people who are good sounding boards. The Spirit loves to manifest in community. #2 - If it's something really uncomfortable for me, then it's likely the Spirit, who is always pushing us outside our comfort zones, and #3 - It actually works to pray for a sign. God is happy to be asked! Give it a try.
Pastor Kathleen Kelly,
Interim Rector
In this Peruvian relief sculpture, St. Paul is shown with a sword, the implement of his martyrdom.
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