Until not too many years ago, I thought Lent was about giving up chocolate or sweets.  And maybe for some, it is.  But really, it has the potential to be so, so much more than that.  Lent is, for my heart, what the past 8 weeks have been for my body – a season of focused preparation with my eye on the goal.  This morning, I could almost hear a collective sigh of relief as we all arose to the beginning of this Holy season.   Finally, finally, this sacred season that begins so late this year is here.  This season that, through it’s discipline and structure, helps us see more clearly that which we truly long for.  This season that helps us scrape away all the unnecessaries and distractions……..those things that “aren’t helpful to us”, as Fr. Buda said in this morning’s Mass…..so that we can see that which we’re really made for.  Because, ultimately, heaven is our goal isn’t it?  Ash Wednesday, Lent, Easter are all just markers along the path.  Sacred markers, but still not the true prize.  The weightiness of deprivation that Lent can bring serves not only to make the joy of the Resurrection all the sweeter but also to remind me to stay focused on the True Prize the rest of the year as well.

How grateful I am for the gentle cadence of the liturgical year to provide steady rhythm and focus for this wandering heart.  God knows I need it!

(This post was originally published elsewhere last week but I thought it would be a nice addition to this poor neglected blog as well.)

HT:  Elizabeth Foss

I have no way of knowing how many of you who stop by here will be welcomed into the Church this weekend. But for those who are coming in, you have my constant prayers today and tomorrow. I still remember the butterflies in my stomach. For many, the butterflies may be accompanied by doubt. I’m praying against that for you. For some, there is grieving of friends you have lost along the journey. I’m praying for our Lord to supply your every need. God may be asking some of you to take a step of faith because it still doesn’t all make sense to you. I’m praying for you to know his strong presence with every step.

I have said it before but I’ll say it again. It. Is. Worth. It. You’ll not regret this decision – hard as it may have been to make. He will meet you in it.

He is waiting.

The apostles, saints, and martyrs of old are waiting.

We’re all (the Church Militant, the Church Expectant, the Church Triumphant) waiting……..to welcome you to the table.

Have a glorious Easter!

Friday night, I had the privilege of being present when our priest administered Last Rites (also know as Extreme Unction or Anointing of the Sick) to my father-in-law. Thank you, Lord, that a practice I, a few years ago, would have dismissed as empty religiosity was a beautiful witness of the love, faithfulness, and mercy of God to the nurse working in the room while we prayed.

“This illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by means of it.” Jn. 11:4

We have no idea what the outcome of the tragic situation will be but we are confidant that God is being and will continue to be gloried in it. Still, it’s hard enough to walk through something so tough, but I’ve also got to help our children walk through it. Would you please pray for us about that? And if your willing, leave a prayer in the comment box. That would really encourage my children. Thank you.

I think the Bible uses the word “saint” to say those who are fellow believers on earth and also those who are in Heaven. (I can go into this further is need be.) If you were talking of “saints” here on earth and asking for their prayer, then I can agree with that. If you were talking of “saints” in Heaven that are actively interceding for us, I would have to disagree with you. Besides the two verses you listed in Revelation, that I personally don’t think paint a good picture of what you are using them for, where in the Bible does it talk about saints interceding for us? There are 7 verses in the Bible that use the word intercede, or a form of it. 6 of the 7 use the word in the context of Jesus or the Holy Spirit interceding for us (Heb 7:25, Ro 8:26, 27, 34, Isa 53:12 and 1 Ti 2:1). The other verse is using it in a little different context then what we are talking about (Job 16:20).

Can saints hear/see us, I don’t know for sure. But, I can say that from a Biblical standpoint, there is no evidence that can support that. Looking through Revelation again would point us to the fact that saints are spending their time worshiping God.

Ethan, what you and I agree on is that there is LOTS we don’t know. Our finite minds simply cannot comprehend all the things of God. However, I’d like to explain why I believe there is biblical evidence that saints hear, see, and care for you and me.

Now, I realize I’m probably not telling you anything you don’t know when I say that in Romans 12:4-5, 1 Cor. 12:12-13, and Eph. 4:4, we read that there is one Body of Christ. But those verses put together with this next one really opened my eyes:

“For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. ” Romans i:38-39

Death does not separate the saints from the Body of Christ and since there is only one Body, we are connected with them in that same Body. And lest you think there are dead people within the Body of Christ, we are told this in Matthew:

“And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, `I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” Matthew 22:31-32

“And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Eli’jah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli’jah.” Matthew 17:1-4

The saints in heaven are very much alive. Our Lord Jesus himself communicated with them and Peter, James, and John witnessed this. So for us to communicate with those in heaven and expect that they hear us isn’t doing anything other than imitating our Lord.

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature.” 2 Peter 1:3-4

“But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him…” 1 Cor. 2:9

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood.” 1 Cor. 13:12

“But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. ” Matthew 22:29-30

Saints are “partakers of the divine nature” and are like angels. We aren’t able to fathom the abilities they have. That just blows me away!

These saints who partake in the divine nature and who live without the same limitations that you and I have are aware of what is going on in our lives:

“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne; they cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before thou wilt judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?” Revelation 6:9-10

In these verses, the martyrs are crying out in heaven for those who who still dwell on Earth. Other examples of saints having knowledge of Earthly situations include 1 Samuel 28 where Saul “calls up” Samuel and Luke 16:19-31 where the rich man in hell asks that Lazarus (who has also died) be sent to warn his brothers to change their ways. But probably one of the most familiar examples of this can be found in Luke 15:

” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15: 7

“Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10

As I said in my original post, it is not mandated that I ask saints to pray for me. I could just choose to ask my husband, friends, and kids to pray for me. But what of the following verses? Obviously, some peoples’ prayers are more effective than others.

“The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.” Jams 5:16

“For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil. ” 1 Peter 3:12

“None is righteous, no, not one….” Romans 3:10

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.” Hebrews 12:22-23

Could it be that there are instances where the saints in heaven are the only ones righteous enough for their prayers to be heard by God? We see below where God would not accept the prayers of Job’s friends:

“After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eli’phaz the Te’manite: “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” So Eli’phaz the Te’manite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Na’amathite went and did what the LORD had told them; and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer. And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends; and the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. ” Job 42:7-10

I’ll continue to ask my husband, friends, and kids to pray for me but I’ll also ask for the prayers of that great cloud of witnesses which surrounds me.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1

Ethan, I’m so thankful for your comments and whether you agree or disagree, I hope this has been helpful. I completely understand where you’re coming from because I was there too once. I had never questioned these things and never even thought to look into them. I’m so glad I did! The more I read, the more I learn, the more deeply I love my Savior!