I never suggested any such thing...You are conflating prayer with mediation...Of course we pray...But we nor anyone else mediates...
Moses; the Judges; the Prophets were all mediators between God and man. Even the High Priests, once a year, entered the Holy of Holies to commune with God- with a rope about their waist lest they died on the midst of God's Presence.
That's true...But if you'll read Hebrews and other N.T. scriptures you will see that Jesus did away with that priesthood...Jesus replaced that entire priesthood by becoming the totally accessible High Priest...
Heb_7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Heb_10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Jesus eliminated the entire bunch...
On the premise that you have God in you, then why pray to Him at all? Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him, as Jesus said: yet, in practically the next breath, He gave us the "Our Father".
We ask for a lot more than we need...We pray for our desires...We worship in prayer...
We do not need however to pray orally...The second we think a prayer it is conveyed to God who is within us...There are however obvious advantages to pray orally...
Jesus gave us the example of the 'Our Father' to show us how to pray, not necessarily what to pray...
Why would we not, then ask our brethren in humanity, especially those who are no longer capable of sinning before God, to assist us in prayer?
Jesus gave us the example with Lazarus in Abraham's bosom/Paradise...Lazarus couldn't shout out to anyone back on the earth's surface...Even the rich man knew that...He couldn't talk to anyone up there and neither could Lazarus...He asked Abraham that Lazarus might go back to the surface where he could communicate with others...
So Jesus must not have spoken simply that He only could intercede between the Father and man.
Well, he most certainly did...
Response from I:Well, he most certainly did...
My apologies for taking awhile to answer- I have a zooey schedule this week!
Please re-read my last paragraph, if you would. I find that most of the responses I receive quote St. Paul. Catholics are taught to consider the Bible as a whole, and our difference here is a matter of interpretation and context. We believe that Jesus stating that no one goes to the Father but through Him refers to His being the one to be crucified for the sin of Adam and Eve, which we have inherited, and which precluded the possibility of our ever attaining Heaven. In that, He alone is the Mediator between God and humanity. Note some of the examples I included of why praying for one another is important, and how even the angels interceintercede for us before the Throne of God. I have more to comment, including the post re: our Mass, but I must go for now.
G-d ♡ bless you!
Grateful ✟ ✡
And did Jesus not say that the rich man's family should listen to Moses and the Prophets in order to know how to live their lives? We look at Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, rather than their nullification.
"17Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled. 19He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 5, Douay-Rheims Edition
Jesus also reinforces the tenets of the Commandments, as well as the virtue of voluntary poverty and alms of charity:
"17And when he was gone forth into the way, a certain man running up and kneeling before him, asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may receive life everlasting? 18And Jesus said to him, Why callest thou me good? None is good but one, that is God. 19Thou knowest the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, bear not false witness, do no fraud, honour thy father and mother. 20But he answering, said to him: Master, all these things I have observed from my youth. 21And Jesus looking on him, loved him, and said to him: One thing is wanting unto thee: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
Mark, 10, Douay-Rheims Edition
A main focus of St. Paul's mission was to gather in those who were not Jews. His contention was that, whether Jew or Gentile, they who believed in Christ were not bound to the practice of circumcision. Were they bound solely to the Law, they would have to live accordingly. They did not need to be: in context he was speaking to newly-formed groups of Christians. Jesus spoke to all mankind; His context is universal.
" 27Where is then thy boasting? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28For we account a man to be justified by faith, without the works of the law. 29Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also. 30For it is one God, that justifieth circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31Do we, then, destroy the law through faith? God forbid: but we establish the law. "
Romans 3 Douay-Rheims Edition
The Law being that the common denominator is belief in Jesus.
Will continue later, 'Cool!
G-d ♡ bless you!
Grateful ✟ ✡