I once had a mentor and friend who is a Roman Catholic Sister to tell me I should ask my deceased friend to pray for me. That was a square peg in my round brain. Didn't fit. And I responded by asking how I could possibly speak to, or pray to someone who was dead? "Is he?" she asked. I explained that I had performed his funeral, and I was absolutely certain that he was indeed dead.
She just stared at me, as if I were not getting it. And then I did.
"OK, I believe my friend still lives...but in Heaven."
And she followed with, "Do you believe he is in the presence of Jesus...of God?"
"Yes."
"Then he can speak to God?"
"Yes."
"Ask him to speak to God for you, David," she smiled then, as if maybe she had gotten through to a very slow student.
I'm not positive she did. We just don't teach that in our church. OR DO WE?
This week we will recite together The Apostle's Creed, including that we believe in "the communion of the saints." Hmmm. We'll sing the hymn entitled The Church's One Foundation which includes these cryptic lyrics: "Yet we on earth have union with God the Three-In-One. And mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won..." :-0 Then we will read from Hebrews 12:1 about how we are "surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses." I can't see them. Can you?
In my book there is a character that Trent meets in the desert. If you've read The Runaway Pastor, what do you think of Father Timothy?
Just what do we believe about such mysteries?
Oh, well. Just some observations on All Saints Day, which is why we have "All Hollow's Eve," or "Halloween..."
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