In an FB page where I joined, I recently posted
an article concerning the life of St. Lorenzo Ruiz with an attached message that appeared like this:
Unfortunately, out of this good intention, I received ridiculous
comments bombarding me that Catholicism is paganism, idolatrous, with a closed
heart and mind, that canonization is not Biblical and a lot of words, which
confronted my patience. You may read our conversation. Below documented communication is not posted to establish who is right and wrong but to create awareness that there has been a huge gap in religious groups which is frustrating because the Bible supposed to be is not the source of a debate but rediscovering and reconciling of discrepancies. What for that we study the Bible if we can't patch up its loopholes? I decided to disclose each one's identity because the issue here so far has not something to do with morality:
Whether I like it or not, I’ve been accepting the fact that there are denominations who firmly believe that once a person dies, he will remain inside the grave until Jesus’ second coming, so that they cannot do something anymore to intercede for the living, which is highly irrational considering that Jesus is not God of the dead but of the living (Mark 12:27) so it’s naturally that God will not leave especially His devoted children to just remain in the cold burial chamber.
Could you still recall when Martha’s brother
died? Take a look at this:
John 11:20-26 When Martha heard that Jesus was
coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus,
"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. (But) even
now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Jesus said to
her, "Your brother will rise." Martha said to him, "I know he
will rise, in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus told her, "I
am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will
live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe
this?"
Please take note that Martha’s belief
with regards to the rising of the dead that it shall be made on the Resurrection on the
Last Day but Jesus “reassures” that “I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and
believes in me will never die.” Did not your heart pump out and beats quickly upon
learning of this declaration? Meaning,
that these Christians who have been canonized as Saints are living with Jesus
in His bosom and we who are still living should jump in jubilation because as
believers of Jesus, we are assured that we could be like Lazarus.
Given this scenario, would you still remain
with the belief that once you’re died, you’ll remain unremembered in the grave
until the Second Coming? Could you not
see this mystery of resurrection that Jesus did to Lazarus? However, if the other denominations believe
that their resurrection after death is on the Resurrection on the Second coming
out of their claim through, “For the living know
that they are to die, but the dead no longer know anything. There is no further
recompense for them, because all memory of them is lost. For them, love and
hatred and rivalry have long since perished. They will never again have part in
anything that is done under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 9:6), please be noted again that the last clause is “under the sun,” meaning that second life is not “intended under the sun” but “somewhere else” and that’s in the bosom of Jesus Christ, in His Holy dwelling where corruption of the flesh is no more.
On the other hand, the detractors of the church would bitterly and
arrogantly make a comment like, the Pope and the Priests canonization of saints
are unscriptural. But again, please be reminded that Catholic Church's
leadership is given the key for the authoritative teaching, as the Scripture
says, “I will give you
the keys to the kingdom of heaven.Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19) Naturally,
before one Pope leaves on earth there could be a turn-over of this key
(authoritative teaching) from St. Peter all the way to present Pope
Francis. If you would notice on the papacy (as provided in the image
herein), not all of the Popes who took the papal sits are given with the title
as a saint, which means that the canonization undergoes an unquestionable
process that may compromise the veracity of being the handler of this key.
You may take a glance on the turning over of keys from one to the other
starting from St. Peter:
As the scriptures says He is not God of the dead but of the living. You are greatly misled (Mark 12:27), meaning, that Jesus does something to make this humanity as lively as it should both here in this earth and after death so why should He allow the departed to remain in grave if indeed He is not God of the dead but of the living? I’m not putting words in our Lord’s mouth but we should also be critical on every verse that could be found in the Scripture than be imprisoned by the indoctrination made by the protestant churches.
Please
take note that Elijah and Moses were accounted in the Old Testament which is before
Jesus descended on earth. Meaning, that
Elijah and Moses had already died long before the Lord’s conception which denotes
that there is second life upon death, than remaining in a tomb until the second
coming, considering that these two saints “re-appeared” in the time of our
Lord.
Further, when it came to a point that the humanity
had abused its freedom which was a hopeless case, God delegates Jesus to reach
out to His creations to save humanity’s existence.
Is it not possible that He could also delegate a flock of Intercessors
through the Saints, a mystery that can rarely be came across with but is revealed
in the Holy Scripture?
Non-Catholics are allergic when the topic
concentrates on saints especially when it concerns canonization and intercession because for them it's unscriptural and therefore a pagan act. Does belief on
sainthood really falls on paganism?
Whether we like it or not, because Jesus
gives the Pope/Priests the power and authority when he says, “I will give you the keys to the
kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and
whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19) so
therefore they are authorized to canonize saints that is fitting to those who practiced heroic virtue and lived in fidelity
to God's grace, whereby the lay people have no authority to question. After all
what is acknowledged here is the goodness of a person but never the sinfulness,
which does not break morality.
Death closes the stages to human life as the
time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in
Christ. The New Testament discloses of judgment predominantly in its
aspect of the final encounter with Christ in His second Parousia, but also
frequently asserts that each will be rewarded instantly after death according
to his works and faith. The parable of the poor man Lazarus and the words of
Christ on the cross to the good thief Dismas as well as other New Testament
texts articulate of a final destiny of the soul which is a destiny which can be
different for some and for others.
Everyone receives eternal reckoning of
immortal soul at the time of his/her death, in a particular judgment that
refers his/her life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of
heaven-through purification or immediately, or immediate
and everlasting damnation. Indeed,
everyone will be judged on our love at the time of our death. Take a look
at these verses:
2 Timothy 1:9-10 He saved us
and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his
own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began, “but
now made manifest through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus, who
destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel”.
Luke 16:22 When the
poor man died, “he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham”. The rich
man also died and was buried.
Luke 24:43 He replied to him,
"Amen, I say to you, “today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Matthew 16:26 What profit
would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what
can one give in exchange for his life? (which implies a second life)
2 Corinthians 5:8 Yet we are
courageous, and we would rather “leave the body and go home to the Lord”.
Philippians 1:23 I am caught
between the two. I long to “depart this life and be with Christ,” (for) that is
far better.
Hebrew 9:27 Just as it is
appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment.
When the Church observes the memorials of
martyrs and other saints on the annual cycle, it declares the Paschal mystery
in those "who have suffered and have been praised with Christ. The Church
offers them to the faithful as models who influence all men to the Father
through Christ, and their worth the church begs for God's kindness."
On the brighter side, for individuals who do
not value this mystery that Jesus Himself articulated through the Holy Scripture, because of existent indoctrination that is overlapping that brought others to disapproval
and confusion, this article is not compelling, which has not to be forcefully
pierced into one’s mind as respect of freedom but this has to be professed with
loyalty as a sign of allegiance to God’s provision of love, salvation, compassion and mysterious constant communion with humanity through the Holy Scripture and with His Church's authorities, and missionaries, that are fathomless. Nevertheless, the creator of this article
hopes for an enlightened mind, a welcoming heart, a conscience with a sense of
balance, and a strength that untiringly seeks the truth, as ingredients of
appreciation on canonization of saints.
References:
http://www.cccnet.ca/saints_stories/StPetertheApostle.html, St. Peter, The Apostle
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm, Catechism of the Catholic Church
http://www.fisheaters.com/rock.html, Was Peter the First Pope?
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