Rational explanation for prayer to Saints

Lutero said:

No one in Scripture EVER prayed to any non-gods such as peter, paul, or mary.

Scripture depicts Dives beseeching Abraham:

Luke 16:24
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

Please EXPLAIN HOW (no catholic seems to explain how) it is NOT worship to:
kneel down before the image of a man
cross yourself before prayer

First, it is because we know the difference between man and God. We do not worship men no matter what position we may take before them.

When we kneel down in prayer to God,  we humble ourselves before God. 

But when we kneel down in prayer before the image of a Saint, we are humbling ourselves before those men who have been made perfect by God.  There is no sin in humbling ourselves before men, because Jesus Himself did so:

Luke 2:51

King James Version (KJV)

⁵¹ And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

When we make the sign of the Cross, we are remembering the Crucifixion and uniting ourselves to Christ crucified (Gal 2:20).

close your eyes, clasp your hands, say prayers

Really?  You object to our closing our eyes, clasping our hands and saying our prayers?

ALL OF THOSE THINGS TOGETHER. What about them?

So far NO CATHOLIC SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO demonstrate that doing all that stuff is NOT WORSHIP. 

Worship according to the modern interpretation is to adore. We only adore God.

According to the "modern" interpretation is correct.  But our Church was instituted by Christ.  It is an ancient Church with ancient terminology which still conveys the ancient meaning.

What does this say?

Joshua 5:14
King James Version (KJV)
¹⁴ And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant?

Do you think that Joshua was adoring St. Michael, the Archangel.  Because that is who is captain of the host of the Lord.  An Angel.

Didn't you know?

Revelation 12:7
King James Version (KJV)
⁷ And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

However, we  venerate or respect and love the angels and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I would REALLY LIKE to see a rational "explanation" of how it is not. It won't do you any good.

I'm sure you've seen many.  But you will not understand until God calls you to understand.  As Scripture says:

1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Love is the key.

in the Name of the BIBLICAL Jesus Christ, The Biblical Jesus wants you to submit to His Church, not to make up your own religion:

That is true.  So why have you made up your own?  Here is what Scripture says:

Matthew 18:17
King James Version (KJV)
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Scripture doesn't give you license to set aside Christ's Church.

Sincerely,

De Maria