L-omelija tal-Arċisqof Charles Jude Scicluna
“Maż-żerniq tal-ewwel jum tal-ġimgħa” (Mt 28:1) – hekk jibda r-rakkont mill-kapitlu 28 ta’ San Mattew li għadna kemm smajna. U din is-sahra tal-lejl, dan il-lejl qaddis trid twassalna biex “maż-żerniq tal-ewwel jum tal-ġimgħa”, tal-Ħadd, aħna niskopru mhux biss jum ġdid imma wkoll ħolqien ġdid.
Il-liturġija li qegħdin niċċelebraw illum bit-tberik tan-nar, bit-tberik tal-ilma, bil-kelma ta’ Alla li tkellimna fuq ir-rakkont tal-ħolqien imma wkoll ir-rakkont tas-salvazzjoni tal-poplu Lhudi mill-iskjavitù, imbagħad ix-xandira tas-salvazzjoni li ġabilna Ġesù, hija propju il-liturġija tal-ħolqien ġdid mhux biss tal-kreazzjoni imma tar-rikreazzjoni. U llum irridu nirringrazzjaw lill-Mulej fil-misteru tal-passjoni u l-pascha tiegħu, it-transitu, l-Għid tiegħu, il-passaġġ tiegħu mill-mewt għall-ħajja li fih jiġbed lil kull wieħed u waħda minna.
Il-Mulej qiegħed jistedinna biex ma naqtgħux qalbna, nimtlew bit-tama.
Ejjew nitolbu wkoll li l-grazzja ta’ dan il-lejl qaddis tkun għall-pajjiżna, għad-dinja, ħolqien ġdid, stedina biex aħna nibdew mill-ġdid. Ilkoll kemm aħna qegħdin fl-istorja ta’ ħajjitna f’mument partikolari. Il-Mulej qiegħed jistedinna biex ma naqtgħux qalbna, nimtlew bit-tama. U dak li jrid jagħtina jinġabar fi djalogu qasir ħafna li l-irxoxt ikollu man-nisa twajbin: “Is-sliem għalikom, tibżgħu xejn” (ara Mt 28:5). Jalla dawn iż-żewġ doni: id-don tal-paċi u d-don tal-ħelsien minn kull biża’ jkun il-frott u l-faraġ tal-Għid għalina.
I would like to address you our friends who today become fully fletched members of the family of Jesus.
The account of the resurrection starts with this detail which is important after the sabath, “As the first day of the week was dawning” (Mt 28:1), at the dawn of the first day. It is the sign of a new begining, a new creation, a re-creation and this is what you are going to go through the sacrament, through the sign of the cleansing with the waters of Baptism and the death to the past and a new life.
We welcome you, we pray for you, we pray with you and we ask you to pray with us and for us. The risen Lord has few words to say to the holy women at his tomb. He says: “Peace be with you, do not be afraid” (cf Mt 28:5). And these are 2 important gifts that are the gifts of this Easter mystery of death and resurrection, of this Passover from death to life, from sin to grace, the gift of peace, the freedom from fear. Let nothing trouble you, let nothing perturb you, let every heavy heart be filled with joy and hope. The Lord is risen, he is truly risen. Alleluia!
✠ Charles Jude Scicluna
Arċisqof ta’ Malta
Qari tal-quddiesa
Qari I : Ġen 1:1 – 2:2
Salm: 103 (104):1-2a,5-6,10,12,13-14,24,35ċ
Qari II : Ġen 22:1-18
Salm: 15 (16):5,8,9-10,11
Qari III: Eż 14:15 – 15:1
Salm: Eż 15:1-2,3-4,5-6,17-18
Qari IIII: Is 54:5-14
Salm: 29 (30):2,4,5-6,11,12a,13b
Qari V: Is 55:1-11
Salm: Is 12:2-3,4bċd,5-6
Qari VI: Bar 3:9-15,32 – 4:4
Salm: 18 (19):8,9,10,11
Qari VII: Eżek 36:16-17a,18-28
Salm: 41 (42):3.5bċd; 42 (43):3,4
Qari VIII: Rum 6:3-11
Salm: 117 (118):1-2,16ab-17,22-23
L-Evanġelju: Mt 28:1-10