Prophecy has a bad reputation today. So many faithful have been abused by what they were told, but what was not true about God’s word for them. To be safe, many have reacted by rejecting anything remotely like it. However, lest we risk silencing God’s loving word and encouragement for others, let’s ask God what He thinks. Moses is quite clear in Scripture: “If only all the people of the Lord were prophets! If only the Lord would bestow his spirit on them!” (Num 11:29). So, we know that God desires it. We know too that God has given us his Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ and the sacraments. And, to better discern God’s voice from our own or from that of evil spirits, consider how Jesus teaches his disciples. He gives them the steps to take in discernment through the Parable of the Sower.