Homily by Archbishop Charles Jude Scicluna
As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of our country’s independence and its status as a sovereign and autonomous nation, I wish to base my reflections on three dear phrases conveyed to us by the saintly Maltese priest, St George Preca (1880–1962):
Thank you, Lord God, and forgive me, Lord God;
Lord God, I need you;
Let us be Friends of the Gospel.
I | Thank you, Lord God and forgive me, Lord God
Today, Dun Ġorġ’s prayer becomes the prayer of each and every one of us: Thank you, Lord God and forgive us, Lord God!
Thank you, Lord God
Thank you for moulding us through the centuries into a people with a rich heritage, a distinctive language, and with firmly-rooted culture and traditions that weave together our identity and define who we are.
Thank you for adorning our islands with great natural beauty, with endemic flora and fauna. Our natural harbours gave us the name Malat, meaning ‘a safe harbour’ and ‘sheltered protection’. The sweetness of our bees’ honey inspired the name Melite, meaning ‘a land that yields fine honey’.
Thank you for the faith that St Paul brought us, which, over the years, has led to great spiritual wealth and inspired a strong social commitment among the Maltese people.
Thank you for blessing Malta with this sweetest light: the light of faith.
Thank you for protecting our ancestors through the centuries: shielding us from sickness and epidemics, saving us from hunger and wars, protecting us from the belligerent strength of enemies.
Thank you for the sweet poetry through which our people expressed their joy and faith, their prayers in suffering and distress.
Thank you for the many Maltese and Gozitans who truly loved our land and gave their lives for the good of our people through politics, literature and the arts, science and archaeology, architecture, and various other trades and skills of the heart and mind.
Thank you for the tireless effort of our politicians, on all sides, who, over the past sixty years — despite many challenges — have worked to help our country’s institutions and economy fulfil the dream of sovereignty, social progress and essential development.
Thank you for blessing us so much with the gifts of our children and grandparents.
Thank you, Lord God.
Forgive us, Lord God
Forgive us, Lord God, for all the times we failed to thank you; for all the times we did not sufficiently appreciate our natural and historical heritage.
Forgive us for all the times our hearts harboured bitterness toward one another and toward the brethren who came to visit us.
Forgive us for when greed became the poison that guided us, when we stole instead of giving, destroyed instead of building, or built poorly solely for monetary gain.
Forgive us for every time we used politics as an occasion to reap personal profit and satisfy our ambition.
Forgive us for the arrogance and the corruption that tarnish the glory of our nation.
Forgive us for the violence in word and deed that even led to the murder of those whose voices caused discomfort, as well as of the innocent.
Forgive us for every time we exploited the foreigner among us.
Forgive us and have mercy on us.
II | Lord God, I need you
The prayer that Dun Ġorġ loved so much becomes our prayer today as Maltese and Gozitans: Lord God, we need you.
We need you to teach us to see creation, our brothers and sisters, and ourselves through your eyes.
We need you to remind us how precious our life is, from conception to its natural end.
We need you to remind us that the Ten Commandments are ten words of light that glow in the darkness; ten words that free us from slavery; ten words that teach us loyalty, faithfulness, purity, justice, truth and generosity — and that distance us from jealousy, violence, greed and harshness of heart.
Lord God, we have attained political and institutional independence. Sixty years ago, the Maltese people chose to recognise the fruitful role of religion, along with the importance of religious freedom and freedom of worship. They also chose to acknowledge fundamental human rights, and over these sixty years, our laws have continued to develop structures and systems that promote inclusion and safeguard the dignity of every human being.
Lord God, bless these genuine efforts and remove all that shatters and breaks us, for we are in deep need of you.
III | Let us be Friends of the Gospel
Dun Ġorġ Preca referred to the words of Jesus in the Gospels as ‘The Voice of the Beloved’. He was inspired by the words the Father spoke on Mount Tabor when his Son, Jesus, appeared in shining glory during his transfiguration: “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him” (Mk 9:7).
Dun Ġorġ often invited his fellow Maltese and Gozitans to be ‘Friends of the Gospel’. To be a friend of the Gospel means to love what Jesus loved and to detest what he detested.
Jesus detested arrogance and vainglory, and loved humility and meekness.
Jesus detested lies and violence, and loved truth and peace, purity and love.
Jesus loved the poor, telling us clearly: “Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Mt 25:40).
IV | The Five Blessings
At the beginning of this year, we, as the Bishops of Malta and Gozo, proposed that the five blessings that Dun Karm prayed in the Maltese National Anthem should guide our future choices: sound judgement, mercy, health, unity and peace.
Unity and peace are the fruits of true reconciliation, something our country has talked about for decades and that it sorely needs. This reconciliation can only be achieved and welcomed through the practice of sound judgment and mercy.
This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Malta becoming a Republic on 13th December 1974. This was another important chapter in the development of our nation. May these anniversaries be celebrations that instil in our people a strong sense of hope and optimism. May we grow in humility to work together as we face constant challenges.
May Malta continue to offer its contribution to the international community as a facilitator of dialogue and diplomacy, as a witness to the power of reason over the reasons of power.
May this sweet land, the Mother that gave us her name, continue to enjoy the sweetest light with which you, Lord, have blessed it.
Protect Malta, Lord, as you always have.
Amen.
✠ Charles Jude Scicluna
Archbishop of Malta