Intercessor or Mediator

Many people confuse the roles of intercessor and mediator. I have heard many say that we cannot pray to the Virgin Mary or the Saints because the only mediator is Our Lord Jesus Christ—as He Himself states in the Gospel: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (cf. John 14:6). This is, of course, true in the sense that Jesus is the sole mediator between God and human beings. However, being a mediator is different from being an intercessor.

What is the difference between a mediator and an intercessor? Let us begin with the definition of an intercessor. An intercessor is someone who steps in on behalf of another person to present their needs to God. We see this clearly in the Sacred Scriptures. The most common example is Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the Gospel of John, we see Mary speaking on behalf of the couple celebrating their wedding at Cana. They had run out of wine, so she spoke to her Son, Jesus, asking Him to perform the miracle of providing more wine for the wedding feast (cf. John 2:1-12). Yet Mary is not the only one who intercedes. Consider the centurion who speaks on behalf of his gravely ill servant; he intercedes with Jesus, asking Him to heal his servant (cf. Matthew 8:5-17). We also see intercession in the Old Testament: Abraham speaks to God, asking Him not to destroy the city (cf. Genesis 18:16–33). Likewise, we become intercessors ourselves when we pray for one another. That is why it is important to offer our petitions during the Eucharist and in our personal prayer. We pray to the Saints asking for their intercession because they are alive in Heaven; for God is a God of the living, not of the dead (cf. Matthew 22:32; Luke 20:37-38). In the Book of Revelation, we see the twenty-four elders presenting the prayers of the Saints to God (cf. Revelation 5:8). We thus see how intercession is offered by all of us.

On the other hand, Jesus Christ is the sole mediator between God and human beings. Christ is the mediator because He uses the Cross as the means for our salvation. The Cross is the bond uniting God and us; it is also the bond uniting humanity itself. That is why Jesus is the center of our faith. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (cf. John 14:6). Jesus is the Good Shepherd and, at the same time, the gate through which one enters the sheepfold (cf. John 10:1–21). Jesus is the living water (cf. John 4:4–42). Jesus is the Bread of Life (cf. John 6:51). I could go on citing biblical passages that demonstrate why Jesus is the only mediator, and why we should follow Him alone.

I hope we have gained a better understanding of what it means to be an intercessor and a mediator. We can be intercessors, but the only One who mediates for us is Jesus Christ. Therefore, my family, let us pray for one another and present all our prayers, supplications, petitions, and offerings to Jesus Christ, the only One who leads us to the house of our Heavenly Father.

Remember, The parish that we dream is the parish that I help to build!

God bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!

Fr. Jorge Ramirez

Holy Trinity Church… 165 years evangelizing!