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I didn't say that the dead are not dead. Their condition is not the same as ours, since they no longer have physical being.

True, but the Bible still says nothing about praying to dead believers or that dead believers can intercede for us. The closest you might get would be from Revelations, so let me post those verses so that it is clearer.

Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer [it] with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, [which came] with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

Now, of course I don't expect you to take my word for anything. Read the Bible and pray that the Holy Spirit open your own eyes to the truth. That being said, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that in the first verse John is talking in symbolic terms.

Next read some of the other New Testament verses where 'saints' is used. You'll clearly see that saints simply refers to living believers in Christ.

Rom 15:25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.

Rom 16:15 Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.

2Cr 8:4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and [take upon us] the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Phl 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Matthew 22 says that our life after death will not be the same as this life. Exactly how that will play out, I don't know. In this life my mother's and father's status should be honored, but in the life with Christ, that relationship will most likely be so overshadowed by the recognition that God is our heavenly Father, as to be no more or less then my relationship with any other believer.

I believe that is part of what Jesus is trying to tell us in Matthew 12:48-50.

But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

What I find interesting in these verses is that Jesus had a prime opportunity to teach people about the supposed importance of Mary and how she would intercede for us, but instead Jesus says that when we do the will of the Father, we are THE SAME as his mother.

That idea is repeated in Luke 11:27,28.

And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed [is] the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.

But he said, Yea rather, blessed [are] they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Your desire to proclaim blessings onto Jesus's Earthly Mom is exactly the same as that 'certain woman' commented on in Luke. It clouds and confuses people on what is more important. You would be better off reading the word of God and proclaiming people keep that, rather then 'honoring' Mary.

Your desire to proclaim blessings onto Jesus's Earthly Mom is exactly the same as that 'certain woman' commented on in Luke. It clouds and confuses people on what is more important. You would be better off reading the word of God and proclaiming people keep that, rather then 'honoring' Mary.

My guess is that most of the confused people are protestants who reject the teaching before they understand it. Certainly every Catholic whom I know and converse with quite understands who is King of kinds and Lord of lords.

So when Mary said this,

ιδου γαρ απο του νυν μακαριουσιν με πασαι γενεαι, ...

she was really upset about it, but just failed to mention that she wished it wouldn't happen? But it doesn't say that in the Bible, so maybe we shouldn't conclude that?

Happy New Year. Now, of course I don't expect you to take my word for anything. Read the Bible and pray that the Holy Spirit open your own eyes to the truth. That being said, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that in the first verse John is talking in symbolic terms.

Yes, you ARE expecting me to take your word for something. And what I do take is that you are trying to explain away Rev. 8:4. Yes, John is uses imagery, and here that imagery does represent prayer, the prayer of the "saints," all the elect including those standing before the altar. This by itself disproves your contention that the Scripture says nothing about the saints in heaven receiving the prayers of the living. Let me make my point: If the prayers of the living has efficacy, then they continue to have efficacy, indeed more, when they are members of the heavenly choir, raising their songs of praise to God.