God is our father. But Jesus is our brother. When you pray, you should pray to God thru Jesus the Bible tells us. "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, that I will do." John 14: 14. But sometimes that still doesn't work. As Catholics they taught us that is when you pray to Mary. All thru God thru Jesus. But RC's are told all thru God thru Jesus thru Mary. Because God is the paternal concept, and Jesus is the brotherly concept. And Mary is the maternal concept. It's interesting. Very few other Christian religions have this I think.
In old testament times, the high priest mediated for the sins of the hebrew people. Those things were a shadow of the heavenly things. In the new covenant, Jesus became the high priest for all of humanity. He is our advocate with God. Hebrews 12:24 [24]to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. Hebrews 8:4-6 [4]For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; [5]who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” [6]But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. Hebrews 4:14-16 [14]Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. [15]For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. [16]Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 1 John 2:1 [1]My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
I hope God isn't that formal and bureaucratic about going through proper channels. I recall a prayer, the Confiteor, from my Catholic youth: "I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the saints that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore, I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the saints, to pray for me to the Lord our God." That one always reminded me of my favorite childhood poem "The House That Jack Built". P.S. You might notice that Jesus is left out of the chain, but I think He's subsumed by the term "Almighty God" and "the Lord, our God" as one of the persons of the Trinity. Fortunately, that prayer, formulated by the Church, isn't typical for Catholics, and nothing bad would happen if one of the personages was inadvertently omitted. The one that's said after going to the priest for absolution is addressed directly to "my God". I personally think prayer is mainly for our own benefit: to keep our minds God-centered and to contain affirmations that might influence our own behavior.
Who knows. To me is makes sense to pray to God in the name of Jesus. I suppose it may not be impossible for the Saints to intercede for us. I don't believe that the dead can intercede for us though. So then it would only be those that have been resurrected that could possibly intercede. Mark 12:26-27 [26]But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? [27]He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.” But there do seem to be some things that can actually hinder our prayers from being heard. For example, if you don't honor your wife, then God won't listen to you. 1 Peter 3:7 [7]Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. Also being a hypocrite: Matthew 6:5-8 [5]“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. [6]But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. [7]And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. [8]“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. And the importance of faith: Mark 11:22-24 [22]So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. [23]For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. [24]Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
To me, the important things about Christianity are its ideals and values: love of God and love of neighbor, broadly conceived to include society's rejects and least advantaged. I think it's unfortunate that these often get lost in petty details that divide denominations: whether or not baptism must involve immersion; whether the Holy Spirit must be mentioned in the process; whether or not Jesus should be depicted on a cross; whether we should make the sign of a cross before prayer; etc., etc., etc. And whether quoting a string of Bible versus out of context is a useful way of settling anything. I doubt that God is such a fussbudget.
I wonder what makes you think that these verses are out of context? Have you thought about the context of the verses, and the context that I am using them in? There is clearly a correct way to pray. That is why Jesus literally taught us how to pray. Matthew 6:7-13 [7]And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. [8]“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. [9]In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. [10]Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. [11]Give us this day our daily bread. [12]And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. [13]And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Here the prayer is clearly addressed to God the Father. Not Mary, Jesus, or the Saints. I just shared the other verses as an example of things that could hinder our prayers besides how they are addressed, and the importance of faith. I'm sure that God can hear our prayers regardless, unless you are a wife abusing hypocrite. But Jesus did teach us the correct way to pray.
I'm with you on the idea that the Lord's prayer expresses the right attitudes, especially "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven". That's the main thing I ask for in prayer, and am always satisfied, since God always gets His way--on earth and in Heaven.
I actually think it is funny that at one point Jesus says "just say this." But the depth of the words is truly powerful. Often, I try to relate the issues in my life to the parts in this prayer if I want to be more specific. Or if I just want to pray to be connected to God then I know that this prayer is all that I need.
