Quintessence of Religious Doctrines - Malankarasyriac Voice

52On the Prayer to the Saints 103 104Quintessence of Religious Doctrines7. And, as they adore the Lord, like the angels do, as they wishand pray for the redemption of all the people of the world, oursolicitations to them to intercede for us will be quite efficacious.Ref: (a) Job. 16:19, 20. Also now behold my witness is inheaven, and my record is on high, my friends scornme, but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. (K.J.V.)(b) Ps. 30:12. So I will not be silent; I will sing praise toyou. Lord you are my God and I will give thanks forever. (G.N.B.)(c) Ps. 115: 17, 18. The Lord is not praised by the dead;by anyone who go down to the world ofsilence. But we, the living will give thanks to him.(G.N.B.)(d) Zech. 1:12. Then the angel said, “Almighty Lord,you have been angry with Jerusalem and the citiesof Judah for seventy years now. How much longerwill it be before you show the mercy?” (G.N.B.)(e) Lk. 16:9. And Jesus went on to say, “And so I tellyou; make friends for yourselves with worldly wealth,so that when it gives out you will be welcomed intheir eternal home.” (V.G.)(f) Jer. 31:15... Rachel weeping for her children refuseto be comforted for her children because they werenot. (K.J.V.)(g) Judg. 13:17. And Manoah said unto the angel of theLord, what is thy name, that when thy sayings cometo pass we may do thee honour (K.J.V.)(h) vide. Jer. 15:4, Mt. 27:46-49. (G.N.B.)CommentThe logic of intercession is spelt out in the following lines. Intheir heavenly abode, the saints are, amidst the angels,who are unstained by sin; further they are in perpetualcommunion with God. This is effected through their praisesand adoration of the blessed Trinity. The saints, as they havebecome selfless, would not be content with heavenlyenjoyment to the exclusion of the others on earth. As theyare only very eager to help those souls who suffer on earth,can we not imagine as to how much would they like to respondto those who solicit their intercession?8. God answers the intercession not only of the saints but also theprayers of the concerned supplicants, after assessing the faithand intention of such ones.Ref: Acts. 5:14-16. But more and more people were addedto the group, a crowd of men and women whobelieved in the Lord. As a result of what the Apostleswere doing, sick people were carried out into thestreets and placed on heads and mats so that atleast Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them ashe passed by. And crowds of people came in fromthe towns around Jerusalem, bringing those whowere ill or who had evil spirits in them; and theywere all healed. (G.N.B.)CommentEven while stressing the efficacy of the intercession of thesaints, the S.O.C. is not oblivious of the fact that, the prayersby the solicitors themselves would be answered. The Lord,however, would respond only after making an evaluation ofthe faith and intentions of the seekers. It is worthwhile toremember the comments of Jesus to Satan and the HolyApostles. To Satan, He said, that the scripture forbade thetesting of the Lord; and the Apostles were told that they couldnot exorcise the demon due to the deficiency of their faith.9. What all do we do towards the saints deeming them as thefriends of Jesus but not his peers or equals are good in themselvesand pleasing to the Lord.Ref: Mt. 25:40. The king will reply, “I tell you wheneveryou did this for one of the least important of thesebrothers of mine, you did it for me!” (G.N.B.)CommentThe mistaken notion, that when saints are venerated, itamounts to the adoration of them, is allayed. The S.O.C. is