First Christmas midnight Mass

Merry Christmas everybody!
I’ve finally attended my very first Christmas midnight mass at Our Mother of Perpetual Help (OMPH) Church at Ipoh Garden last night.

It was basically just my own decision to experience the coming of Christmas with Christians. No one invited me. I just decided to go and invited myself after consulting some Christian friends on which Church I should attend.
The decision was simple, I wanted to attend a Roman Catholic Church. Why, one may ask.

Because of Pope Francis. His papacy has been a breath of fresh air in Christendom. Here are some of my favourite quotes by
Pope Francis:
The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone!
Proselytism is solemn nonsense; it makes no sense. We need to get to know each other, listen to each other and improve our knowledge of the world around us.
If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge? We shouldn’t marginalise people for this. They must be integrated into society.
I have a dogmatic certainty: God is in every person’s life. God is in everyone’s life. Even if the life of a person has been a disaster, even if it is destroyed by vices, drugs or anything else – God is in this person’s life. You can – you must – try to seek God in every human life
A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: ‘Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?’ We must always consider the person.
Although the life of a person is in a land full of thorns and weeds, there is always a space in which the good seed can grow. You have to trust God.
From my point of view, God is the light that illuminates the darkness, even if it does not dissolve it, and a spark of divine light is within each of us.
The people of God want pastors, not clergy acting like bureaucrats or government officials.
Money has to serve, not to rule.

Politics is a noble activity. We should revalue it, practise it with vocation and a dedication that requires testimony, martyrdom, that is to die for the common good.
There is a need for financial reform along ethical lines that would produce in its turn an economic reform to benefit everyone. This would nevertheless require a courageous change of attitude on the part of political leaders.
The proclamation of the saving love of God comes before moral and religious imperatives. Today sometimes it seems that the opposite order is prevailing.
The Son of God became incarnate in the souls of men to instill the feeling of brotherhood. All are brothers and all children of God.
To say that you can kill in the name of God is blasphemy.
I believe in God – not in a Catholic God; there is no Catholic God. There is God, and I believe in Jesus Christ, his incarnation. Jesus is my teacher and my pastor, but God, the Father, Abba, is the light and the Creator. This is my Being.
I see clearly that the thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity.
Clearly, he is winning the hearts of many non-believers and those who used to feel they were marginalized by the Church. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear there is a resuscitation of attendance at Catholic Churches because of him. Pope Francis tends to take the inclusive position rather than the excluding position of condemnation in his bid to reach out to people, both believers and non-believers alike. His leadership is inspirational and heart-warming. I hope it’s infectious too.
Recently, I heard a story of a “famous” sermon by a priest at the (Catholic) Church of St. Michael in Ipoh. It was regarding the use of joss-sticks by other faiths. He brought a huge joss-stick, supposedly one of those at least 1metre tall ones which are decorated with dragons along it’s length, to a sermon. Having caught the attention of the congregation, he proceeded to explain that joss-sticks are merely incense on sticks. After all, Catholics use incense (in a pot) as part of their rituals too. From what I heard, his sermon cleared up a lot of misunderstandings that has lead to aversions amongst some Christians from having anything to do with joss-sticks.
I had wanted to attend the Christmas Mass at Church of St. Michael to meet and listen to a sermon by this priest myself. Alas, I heard this innovative and inspiring priest was transferred to Bukit Mertajam to help rebuild a church there.
Nevertheless, I heard an important message last night at OMPH. It’s about having “faith in the power of Love” to bring about a better world and life for everyone.

Yes, Love. Not “faith in the power Jesus or God” but “faith in the power of Love”. Perhaps this message came from Pope Francis himself, it certainly has his signature.
If everyone were to uphold Love in our everyday lives and actions, we will change this world. Regardless of faith, culture and beliefs. Without bringing in any religious element, we can save the world and bring about a better place and future for the children of the world. All it takes is Love <3
After all, for those who believe, Love is the language of God.
For those who don’t, Love is more than enough.
Merry Christmas everyone. May the essence & spirit of Jesus Christ, which is Love, bless you & your loved ones.