Pastoral Letter for Lent 2019, ‘Do not be afraid to take
Mary home’ …
We are a nation that loves the home. Rightly so, for marvellous stories are
woven within its four walls: stories of delightful families, stories of great
generosity; incredible stories of parents sacrificing everything for their
children, particularly when a child has special needs; stories of heroism in the
face of a grave illness.
Then there are homes where stories have been written that you wish never
occurred: (elderly) parents abandoned by their children; open wounds inflicted
by domestic violence or abuse; or heartbreak caused by a failed marriage. There
are persons who even had to move because gossiping by neighbours became
unbearable. Then there are homes stricken by abject poverty. There are homes
where death has trod and plucked the life that had only just started to bloom
like a rose.
In such situations, we recommend Saint Peter’s words to the crippled beggar at
the Temple gate: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk!”
(Acts 3:6). When we invite Jesus to enter our homes, his presence works wonders.
This is what transpired when Jairus called Jesus to his home because his
daughter was seriously ill.
We are not surprised that there are people among us who think they are not
worthy to receive Jesus in their homes. For there are many who assume that when
Jesus walks in our street he passes us by! But the story of Zaccheus not only
abundantly illustrates that Jesus also enters the home of the public sinner
shunned by everyone, but he even invites himself in! Jesus does not enter
because everything is in order, but rather order ensues once Jesus enters our
dwelling! Christ died for us “while we still were sinners” (Rom 5:8). Hence
Saint John writes, “we love because he first loved us” (1 Jn 4:19). Commenting
on this passage, Saint Augustine says that Christ, beauteous in loveliness
surpassing the sons of men, loved us when we were foul and unlovely.
The spouses of Cana
To those who struggle to welcome Jesus in their home, we offer them this advice
with love and humility: emulate the bride and bridegroom at Cana and do not be
frightened to take Mary home. For wherever Mary goes, she takes Jesus with her.
She helps us taste the goodness of the love that Christ has for everyone, but
most especially for persons who are stunned to see their house “collapse” all
around them.
The calamity that had nearly befallen the wedding party at Cana when the wine
was running out, can also beset our homes when a serious crisis strikes: for
example, when there is discord among siblings, when a parent loses employment,
when a member of the family is stricken with drug addiction, when fidelity in
marriage is dented, when the future of the family is on shaky ground, when
religious practice dwindles down and thus it contributes to the collapse of the
foundations of faith, and other challenges.
The serenity in our homes is put at risk when worrisome situations in the
society we inhabit take hold and flourish, such as the erosion of trust in
institutions, the lack of respect for human life from conception, poverty,
destruction of the environment, corruption, and other issues.
It goes without saying that for us believers, the adverse issues afflicting our
Church today, the siege mentality, the resistance to change as indicated by Pope
Francis and scandalous examples, also find an echo in our homes.
Moments of trial
In such disquieting situations, we need to listen to the crucified Jesus
repeating the invitation he made to John while indicating him to Mary: “Here is
your mother”, and like John we take Mary home. Mary, then, points to Jesus and
tells us: “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5). Pope Francis says that Mary in
our homes “is not an optional accessory”, but willed by Jesus himself.
In the home of Nazareth, there might have been instances where Mary and Joseph
did not immediately understand each other. We can also imagine that there might
have also been disagreements between the parents and their son as when he was
los in Jerusalem. For such reasons, Mary understands families going through
moments of tension owing to discord between couples or between parents and their
children.
The home of Nazareth is also familiar with crises of faith, because we were told
that Mary, as well as Joseph, were at first confused by God’s demands of them.
Hence,
Mary’s place is also in homes where the occupants are going through the dark
night of faith and thus are struggling with God.
When Mary spent three months living in Elizabeth’s house, who knows the many
tales she heard from the elderly couple who spent their lives berated by
people’s gossip because they could not have children. Mary understands couples
who are facing difficulties to start a family.
In the stillness of her home, Mary learnt the high price of her maternity when
she was told many times that her son Jesus is “a glutton and a drunkard, a
friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Mt 11:19), or when she overheard her
neighbours declare that Jesus “has gone out of his mind” (Mk 3:21). In the light
of these experiences, Mary understands parents whose children are slandered and
insulted, and stands shoulder to shoulder with families tormented by illness and
mental fatigue.
Mary, who accompanied her Son on the road to Calvary, knew full well of the
betrayal of Judas, the denial of Peter, and the desertion of Jesus by his close
friends and disciples. Thus she understands couples broken by betrayal and
treachery.
Mary, who stood by the Cross, is close to families crucified by suffering.
Mary, who after the death of Jesus was behind closed doors with the Apostles in
the Upper Room, comes to the aid of those who are, for one reason or another,
housebound and cannot find the courage and hope in themselves to go forward.
The Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu
Last Wednesday we celebrated the beginning of Lent. Throughout this season, with
the help of the Word of God, prayer, penance and acts of mercy, we prepare
ourselves for the great feast of Easter. Just like Jesus rose from the dead on
that day and went to meet his disciples who were gathered together behind closed
doors because they were afraid of the Jews, it is the greatest desire of our
heart that this Easter Jesus enter and dwell in our homes. Just as Mary was
present in the disciples’ home, let us not be fearful to take her with us, in
our own homes, so that she will help us prepare for the visit of the Resurrected
Christ.
We felt moved to put Mary front and centre before you today because this year we
are commemorating the 400th anniversary of the painting of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu.
In 1883 Karmni Grima and Franġisk Portelli heard a voice coming from this very
painting. On that day, Our Lady instructed Karmni to pray three Hail Marys in
honour of the three
days her body reposed in the tomb before she was assumed into Heaven body and
soul. In other words, woven in the story of the National Sanctuary of Ta’ Pinu
we find the events of the Easter of Christ and the Assumption of Mary. If this
painting could speak, how many tales would it recount of the wonderful
experiences of Easter that took place within the walls of so many of our homes!
We are glad that the image of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu is found in so many homes,
for where there is Mary, there is Jesus. And where there is Jesus there is life
that overcomes death, the grace that frees from sin, the hope that lifts
sadness, forgiveness that binds the wounds of the brokenhearted, the joy that
banishes sorrow, the peace that ends all hostilities. When we remember that the
Rosary is the prayer most precious to Mary, a prayer that leads us to meditate
on Jesus, we invite all our families to pray this beautiful prayer often.
We cordially impart our pastoral blessing.
+ Charles J. Scicluna, Archbishop of Malta.
+ Mario Grech, Bishop of Gozo.
+ Joseph Galea-Curmi, Auxiliary Bishop of Malta.