through the veil

The veil was the partition that separated the holy place from the most holy
place.  Only the high priest could enter the most holy place, and then only
one time per year, accompanied by great ceremony and through a cloud of
smoke.  This ritual signified the darkness of that dispensation and the
darkness of our sin.

That smoke was sweet incense to the LORD. In revelation that was referred to as the prayers of the saints.  

 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.
 

No one can enter the presence of the Lord except through the veil of Jesus' flesh, torn or broken for us.  

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

All the ceremonial cleansing was to prepare a heart to enter the Holy Place. God always looks at the heart. They washed hands, but it was the heart. We should prepare our hearts before attending church or even a Bible study. Many enter with hearts somewhere else, dressed to go to the lake or beach, lets get this over so we can go where our heart desires to be. Should not our hearts desire be to fellowship in the presence of the Lord? Maybe not in a holy temple that is a building, but in the temple of the Holy Spirit that dwells within.We can be in the Holy presence in our closets or as we walk in the wilderness, even at work, he is with us. We commune with him, if our hearts are cleansed and our minds renewed in Him. It is not about a building and a priest in a garment doing religious things. That passed with the tearing of the veil. We each have a holy garment, not as the Mormons wear, but the Spiritual garment, the white linens of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

Rev 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.