If you went to midnight Mass last night, you have been through a very meaningful experience.

First a fire was lit and blessed — in the dark outside — creating light where there was no light.

The Mass readings  included the full-length Genesis account of the Creation, when the light was switched  on in our universe.

At Creation, man was given light for his soul, God’s grace. Within days, the Bible says, disobedience took over, and that light was gone.

* * *

Anyway, the fire at the church was used to light a candle to be venerated because it represents Jesus Christ, “the Light of the World”.

The light of the world is the Sun, you say? Clang. That’s wrong. The Sun will be a black hole soon enough, sending out no more life-giving rays.

Human beings are immortal, soul-wise. We need a light for our souls that will be there forever.

That means God.

* * *

God is an interventionist God. What other kind of God could there be? He intervened by entering our world in the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.

But Christ isn’t here now, you say?

Isn’t he?

At Mass, we can receive the Body and Blood, the Soul and the Divinity of Christ.

The Roman Catholic Church is, in fact, is the continuing incarnation of God upon earth. We must be careful when we feel tempted to criticise the Church.

Yes, people in it have molested children. Yes, there are others who could have done more to stop it happening, and didn’t.

The fact remains that it is God’s will that we come to him through that same Roman Catholic Church. If it is an unworthy Church in many ways, that should just suit us. We ourselves are unworthy of God’s goodness.

* * *

The Christian gospel is perfect. The Sacraments are perfect.

If you think the Church is not good enough for you because of appalling things happening in it, then you are suffering from a disease called “pride”.

You would do well to get down on your knees and stay there until God has removed it from your heart.