Saints
in heaven offering our prayers to God under the form of golden bowls
full of incense |
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Many
often misunderstand praying to the saints. But this practice
of praying to the saints dates to the earliest days of Christianity.
Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, the other Eastern Christians and
even some Anglicans are shared this – meaning that it
is shared by more than three quarters of the Christians on earth.
The
critics believe that these dead brothers and sisters whom
we call saints are unable to hear our prayers since they are
human beings like us. But as scripture indicates in Rev. 5:8
where John depicts the saints in heaven offering our prayers
to God under the form of golden bowls full of incense,
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are the prayers of the saints. The saints in heaven do intercede
for us to God. |
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Praying
for each other in heaven or on earth is simply part of what Christians
do. |
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| In
1 Tim 2:5 Paul tells “For there is one God; there is one
mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human…”
Jesus Christ is a unique mediator between man and God, because
he is the mediator of the new covenant (Heb 9:15, 12:24) just
as Moses was the mediator of the old covenant. (Gal 3:19-20).
But the intercession of saints does not interfere with Christ’s
unique mediatorship. In 1 Tim 2:5 Paul says that Christians
started intercede and this is good and pleasing to God our saviour.
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| How can Mary and saints (as they are simply
human beings) be present everywhere and know the secrets of
all hearts? It is very clearly indicated in the Holy Bible that
the glorified human intellect enjoys a phenomenal ability to
process information. It is through God’s willing that
they can communicate with others in heaven and even with us
on earth. Praying for each other in heaven or on earth is simply
part of what Christians do. The faith and devotion of the saints
can support our own weaknesses and supply what is lacking in
our own faith and devotion.
Jesus regularly supplied for one person based on another
person’s faith. (Mt 8:13, 15:28, 17:15-18, Mk 9:17-29,
Lk 8:49-55.) Those in heaven, being free of the body and the
distractions of this life have even greater confidence and
devotion to God than anyone on earth.
In Jas 5:16-18, he declares ‘the prayer of a righteous
man has great power in its effects...’ In Heb 12:22-23
St. Paul tells ‘yet those Christians in heaven are more
righteous, since they have been made perfect to stand in God’s
presence, than anyone on earth’, meaning their prayers
would be even more effective. We should be broadminded people
to ask our fellow Christians in heaven i.e., saints to intercede
for us to God the Father in the name of Jesus with the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit.
In
Rev 5:8 St. John sees that ‘the
twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding
a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers
of the saints.’ So it is very clear
that the saints in heaven offer to God the prayers of the
saints on earth. Devotion to saints is always therefore recommended.
Praise the Lord from the heaven. Praise the Lord from the
earth.
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‘the
prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects...’ |
