He called each of his lambs by name (Jn. 10, 1-10)

Read: The parable of the Good Shepherd typifies faith. The lambs hear His voice and follow Him. The Good Shepherd promises security. He knows everybody by name. He is also the door, through which and with faith in Him, they enter.

Reflect:

Do you hear the voice of the Good Shepherd?

Does the fact that He knows you by name make you feel good?

Do you feel that God may be calling you to do something beautiful for Him and with Him? How will you become aware of this?

Did you ever feel in your heart something that makes you feel uneasy and makes you continue to search?

Is there a particular person to whom you feel you could offer help?

Did you ever read a quotation from the Bible that enriched your faith?

When you pray, do you feel that God is asking you to do something?

Did you ever meet somebody who encouraged you towards the call that God is making to you?

Do you feel that alone you are unable to carry out the call?

These could well be signs of God’s will for you. Reflect.

Act: Continue praying and speak to a person in whom you have confidence and who is able to help and guide you e.g. a priest or spiritual director. Feel free to phone for help 2122 2884 and ask for Fr. Terence Spiteri osa or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Second Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy)

Gospel according to St. John 20:19-31

Read: From behind closed doors (as indeed we ourselves are at present), God showed himself to the Apostles. He breathed on them the Holy Spirit and sent them on their mission. Eight days later He reappeared to them. On that occasion, Thomas, who had doubted the first appearance, was present with the other Apostles. This time he believed and he so declared; a belief that the Church recognises until this day: “My Lord and my God”.

Pray: Let us pray to God that He will always fill us with His divine life – that we do live in a state of grace.

Reflect: The Apostles’ doubts, especially amongst them Thomas, were never able to stop the power brought with it by Easter. Many were the events that were destined to happen. That is why God sent the Apostles to continue His mission. Their hour had arrived. As Lord God Almighty, he appointed others to speak in His name, to those who were previously weak and slow to understand. He was now ready to return to His father. His mission was now in the hands of others who were made capable to carrying out the mission assigned to them.

Act: Today is a holy day in which we should reflect on what God expects of us. Spend some quiet time with God seeking His help in directing your life towards something more sensible and that is fruitful.

Luke 24, 13-35

Read: The disciples from Emmaus recognised Jesus when he broke bread. What happened at that moment exemplifies the significance of the Eucharist. Straight away we notice the wonderful nature of the Eucharist.

Pray: O Lord make me always grateful for this wonderful gift given me through the Eucharist.

Reflect: How central to your life is the Eucharist? At present, due to the pandemic, we are denied receiving this gift. Do you feel a wish that time passes quickly so that you are able to start receiving again this sacrament of love?

Whilst our movements are constrained by this virus, we can participate in the Mass by following this on television or the social media without being physically present. Perhaps before the pandemic hit us, we in Malta, where it is reckoned that there are 356 churches, used to take the Mass for granted, and this may have induced us to be lax in that regard. But now that we are denied from participation in the Mass in Church, many are appreciating this much more. This is a time for reflection:

What is the difference between ‘hearing’ Mass (or in present circumstances ‘following this’ through the media) and ‘actually taking part’ in the Mass?

Can you be a Christian without celebrating the Lord’s day?

Do you not think that at times we lead a double life; on Sunday I participate in the Mass and during the week I speak ill of, or even deceive, my neighbour?

Mass ends with the words “Go in the peace of Christ”. Do you feel a responsibility after you have participated in the Eucharist?

Do: Today go through some reading material on the Eucharist so that you can recognise and always appreciate more this gift.

L-Għid: Tifsira ġdida lil dak li għaddejjin minnu

Fid-dinja kollha, fl-għodwa tal-Għid, permezz tal-Mass Media u tas-Social Media, ser titwassal l-Aħbar it-Tajba tal-Qawmien ta’ Kristu mill-imwiet, lil miljuni ta’ nies. Din l-aħbar tal-Għid, din is-sena ser titwassal, kif ilkoll nafu, fi żmien partikulari ħafna, minħabba l-Covid-19. Dawn il-messaġġi ser jaslu lil nies li huma morda, imbeżżgħin, b’qalbhom maqtugħa, f’solitudni, magħluqin f’darhom, nies li għaddejjin minn tbatija u tħassib, minħabba li qed jaraw il-mezzi finanzjarji tagħhom sejrin lura, nies li tilfu x-xogħol jew il-post tagħhom tax-xogħol huwa inċert. Ser tasal lil ħafna nies li jaħdmu fil-qasam tas-saħħa, saċerdoti li jservu fl-isptarijiet, nies li jaħdmu fil-qasam tal-ordni pubblika, ġurnalisti, voluntiera ta’ diversi NGO’s li qed jagħmlu dak kollu li jistgħu f’sitwazzjoni diffiċli. Insomma wasal l-Għid u l-virus għadu magħna! U ma nafux kemm ser idum!

Il-messaġġ tal-Għid lil kulħadd huwa wieħed: Il-mewt u d-dnub ġew mirbuħa! Il-Mulej qam mill-imwiet! Alleluia Alleluia.

Dan huwa messaġġ profond ta’ barka: li kif deher fil-qawmien ta’ Kristu mill-imwiet, l-imħabba ta’ Alla hija ikbar minn kull ħaġa oħra li nistgħu nsibu ruħna fiha, li r-rebħa tal-aħħar hija ċerta. L-aħbar it-tajba tal-Qawmien mill-imwiet ta’ Kristu ma tfissirx li ser jitwarrbu l-vulnerabbiltajiet tagħna fil-ġenb, qisu mhux ser ninkwetaw iktar. Imma issa, bir-rebħa aħħarija tal-imħabba ta’ Alla fuq kull sitwazzjoni li nsibu ruħna fiha, is-sitwazzjonijiet diffiċli tagħna jsiru parti minn storja ikbar ta’ salvazzjoni.

Fis-silta mill-Evanġelju skont San Ġwann, l-enfasi hija fuq il-ftit ħin meta dehru l-ewwel indikazzjonijiet tal-Qawmien. Tliet persuni pprivileġġati jkollhom l-ewwel laqgħa ma’ realtà ta’ ġrajja ta’ sinifikat enormi.

Nibdew b’Marija ta’ Magdala, fl-Evanġelju skont San Ġwann narawha tibki ħdejn il-qabar. Imma fis-silta li naqraw f’Ħadd il-Għid filgħodu, naqraw li qabel, kienet waslet u sabet il-blata mneħħija mill-qabar. Hija, minflok daħlet fil-qabar biex tara x’ġara, marret tiġri għand Xmun Pietru u d-dixxiplu l-maħbub biex tgħidilhom: “Neħħew lill-Mulej Sidi mill-qabar, u ma nafx fejn qegħduh.”

Kienet maħkuma mid-dwejjaq u mill-biża’. Hija kienet semgħet kemm-il darba lil Ġesù jitkellem fuq li kellu jbati, imut, imbagħad iqum mill-imwiet; imma ma kinitx għadha fi stat li setgħet tifhem mill-ewwel il-kobor tal-ġrajja li kienet seħħet. Imma d-dmugħ tagħha juri l-imħabba li kellha; id-dmugħ tagħha kellu valur u tifsira. Billi kellha din l-imħabba għall-Mulej, imħabba li wriet bid-dmugħ li xerrdet, kienet malajr ħa tasal biex tifhem fil-fond dak kollu li kien ġara.

Imbagħad għandna lil Xmun Pietru u d-dixxiplu l-maħbub. Ħafna jistaqsu għaliex l-Evanġelista qagħad jidħol fid-dettall ta’ min wasal l-ewwel ħdejn il-qabar u min daħal l-ewwel fil-qabar. Waħda mit-tifsiriet li tingħata għal dan hija li d-dixxiplu l-maħbub, barra li huwa persuna, jisinifika l-imħabba: hija l-imħabba li tasal l-ewwel. U bl-imħabba li issa ssib postha, Xmun Pietru li jirrappreżenta l-Knisja, jista’ jidħol hu l-ewwel fil-qabar. Dak li kien importanti għal Pietru kien li jara l-evidenza. Imma jibqa’ dejjem il-fatt li d-dixxiplu l-maħbub, dak li l-Evanġelju jgħidilna li Ġesù kien iħobb, iħoss li hemm xi ħaġa ta’ kobor enormi li seħħet u jemmen.

Tliet persuni differenti, tliet reazzjonijiet differenti quddiem l-istess realtà. Illum skont il-lingwa tal-istatistika ngħidu li meta qed nitkellmu fuq tliet persuni, għandna sample rappreżentattiv żgħir wisq. Imma anke dan is-sample żgħir jirrifletti l-modi differenti kif in-nies jirreaġixxu għall-istess aħbar: Il-mewt u d-dnub ġew mirbuħa! Il-Mulej qam mill-imwiet! Alleluia Alleluia!

Ir-realtajiet tal-ħajja huma dawk li huma. L-aħbar glorjuża tal-Qawmien ma twarrabhomx ’l hemm minna. Imma din l-aħbar it-tajba tibqa’ tgħidilna xi ħaġa f’kull sitwazzjoni. Anke fis-sitwazzjoni li qegħdin għaddejjin minnha tal-Covid-19! Huwa fatt minn dejjem, li proprju minn dik il-għodwa tal-Għid, li ġrat ’il fuq minn elfejn sena ilu, joħroġ is-serħan tar-ras tagħna.

Ħadd u xejn ma jista’ jbiddel din ir-realtà tal-Qawmien. Realtà li hija ikbar ħafna minn kull sitwazzjoni personali jew kollettiva li nistgħu nkunu għaddejjin minnha. Hija realtà li tagħti tifsira ġdida lil kull sitwazzjoni umana. Il-mewt u d-dnub intrebħu! Il-Mulej qam mill-imwiet! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Ħamis ix-Xirka

Ġesù jaħsel riġlejn l-Appostli (Ġw. 13:1-15)

Qalb ta’ qaddej

Ftit ġrajjiet fil-Evanġelju juru l-karattru u l-imħabba ta’ Ġesù, hekk ċar daqs din il-ġrajja.

Ġesù kien jaf li kollox ġie mogħti lilu. Kien jaf li s-siegħa tal-umiljazzjoni kienet viċin, imma kien jaf ukoll li s-siegħa tiegħu tal-glorja kienet viċin ukoll.  Dan seta’ għamlu kburi, madanakollu minkejja li kien jaf li s-setgħa u l-glorja kienu tiegħu, huwa ħasel saqajn id-dixxipli. Fil-mument meta seta’ kien supperv, kellu l-ikbar umiltà. L-imħabba hija dejjem hekk.

Ġesù kien jaf li ġie mingħand Alla u li kien sejjer lura għand Alla. Seta’ kellu ċerta disprezz lejn il-bnedmin u lejn l-affarijiet tad-dinja. Seta’ ħaseb li issa ma kellux x’jaqsam iktar mad-dinja, għaliex kien fi triqtu lura lejn Alla. Kien proprju f’dan il-ħin li Alla kien l-iktar qrib tiegħu, li Ġesù niżel l-iktar fil-baxx biex jaqdi lill-oħrajn. Li taħsel saqajn il-mistednin kien xogħol tal-ilsir. Il-ħaġa sabiħa dwar dan kollu hija li l-viċinanza għal Alla, iktar milli firditu mill-bnedmin, ġabitu qribhom iktar minn qatt qabel. Hija verità li m’hemm ħadd li hu l-iktar qrib tal-proxxmu tiegħu minn dak li hu viċin ta’ Alla.

Ġesù kien jaf li ser ikun ittradut. Din il-ħaġa setgħet nisslet fih sentiment ta’ mibegħda; imma minflok ġagħlet il-qalbu tferra’ mħabba ikbar mis-soltu. Il-ħaġa tal-għaġeb hija li iktar ma l-bnedmin jweġġgħuh, iktar Ġesù kien iħobbhom. Hekk għadu jagħmel sal-lum.

“Xi nrodd lill-Mulej għall-ġid kollu li għamel miegħi?” (Salm 116:12)

Ħadd il-Palm

Id-daħla ta’ Ġesù f’Ġerusalemm (Mt. 21:1-11)

Dan min hu?

Nibdew il-Ġimgħa Mqaddsa bid-dħul trijonfali ta’ Ġesù f’Ġerusalemm.

Din il-ġrajja turi tliet affarijiet dwar Ġesù:

1. Ġrajja li turi kuraġġ. Ġesù kien jaf tajjeb li kien dieħel f’Belt ostili. Kienu kemm kienu entużjasti l-folol, l-awtoritajiet kienu jobogħduh u kienu ħalfu li jeħilsu minnu. Ġesù daħal Ġerusalemm u poġġa lilu nnifsu fiċ-ċentru tal-attenzjoni.
2. Ġrajja li turi Hu min kien jgħid li hu: Il-Messija ta’ Alla, il-Midluk ta’ Alla. Kieku Ġesù kkuntenta ruħu li jsostni li hu profeta, probabbilment ma kienx imut. Imma ma kienx sodisfatt jekk mhux bl-ogħla post. Il-poplu kellu jilqgħu bħala sultan, jew ma jilqgħu xejn.
3. Ġrajja li turi x’sejħa ried jagħmel. Huwa ma riedx li jkun sultan fuq tron; imma sultan tal-qlub. Daħal Ġerusalemm riekeb felu ta’ ħmara. Fid-dinja tagħna tal-Punent, il-ħmar huwa annimal disprezzat; imma fil-Lvant Nofsani, il-ħmar huwa meqjus bħala annimal nobbli. Kemm-il darba s-slaten kienu jirkbu fuq ħmar; imma meta kienu jagħmlu dan, kien ikun sinjal li ġew bil-paċi. Kienu jirkbu ż-żwiemel fil-gwerra. Mela meta Ġesù rikeb fuq ħmar, huwa ried juri li kien sultan ta’ paċi. Kien qed juri li kien sultan li jġib il-paċi... li ma ġiex biex jeqred imma biex iħobb; ma ġiex biex jikkundanna imma biex jgħin; ma ġiex bil-qawwa tal-armi imma bil-qawwa tal-imħabba.

Kienet l-aħħar stedina ta’ Ġesù lill-bnedmin biex jiftħu mhux il-palazzi, imma qalbhom għalih.