THE ETERNAL INTERCESSOR

(Hebr. 7:25-8:6, Ps. 40, Mk. 3:7-12)
 
Of the faith that the catholic church holds so dear is that of intercession. She believes and teaches that certain persons who out of sheer grace and human effort now sit with the Father in heaven and so can help the pilgrim church by ways of interceding before God our Father.

The above is not a formulation of the church but one with a scriptural background. James tells us: "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (Jas. 5:16). The saints are persons like you and me who have struggled through life yet amid all odds, they stood faithful and lived as true witnesses of the gospel.

However, the perfect intercessor we have is Jesus Christ, God made incarnate among men. The first reading tells us: "The power of Jesus to save is utterly certain since he is living is forever to intercede for all who come to God through him." This is very true as we have indications in the gospel reading that Jesus attended to the spiritual needs of the people. With Jesus, we have access to the Father in heaven for even the evil one would speak of him as the Son of God. Let us, therefore continue to call on him as He leads us to enjoy the goodness of the Father.

Let us pray: *O God, listen to us as we call to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen