It appears that you have said that 2nd Maccabees is your source. You mention no other. Is that not so?
A source, yes, my only source, no. I have mentioned Tobit, 2 Maccabees, Revelation, and Hebrews that I can recall right off the top of my head during our discussion.
"Guidance of the Holy Spirit." Got any evidence that this is the answer? Or does it just fit any question? How about historical evidence that it always WAS practiced? The testimony of a writer from the first years of church history? A passage in the New Testament describing it? Something??
If one were to look at the Dogma of the Trinity, one would see that it has developed as the Church gleins more insight into its ramifications. For instance, read through any of the Church Fathers throughout the first couple of hundred years and you will be hard pressed to find anything and precise as the use of the word
homoousia, yet we
know it is the orthodox faith.
The same is true with prayer to Saints. You state:
I wonder if we should start to keep score on all the evasions of the question that are offered. For example, we have...
Saints pray to God.
Saints pray to God about us.
God hears prayers.
Saints may pray for us.
We should respect and honor saints.
Saints once were like us.
Saints are alive.
The Church has named various people as saints.
BUT,
none of those comments answers the question, "Should we pray to saints?"
I wish I could give you my eyes that you could see that what you call evasions are clues to the thread which answers your question. What
allows them to pray for us, what
allows them to offer our prayers to the Father, what makes them
alive is what allows us to ask for their intercession; namely union with Christ: One Body. Theology is not something where the part is not related to the whole. I could show you the progression in understanding, but would you not just call it innovation and write it off?
Saying "God did it" really isn't an answer...or if it is, every last denomination and cult is entitled to say the same thing...
As Martin Luther said, "I do not admit that my doctrine can be judged by anyone, even by the angels. He who does not receive my doctrine cannot be saved." Every man now believes himself to be his own Pope.
God Bless,
Neal