Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca yesterday called on Malta’s new pastoral leader to be steadfast and look to the future with courage and not to be afraid of a ministry that “calls for sacrifice, that will present numerous difficulties, periods of loneliness and sadness”.

“Do not be afraid. God has called you to carry this responsibility, is always beside you with his grace and his strength. The Holy Spirit will fill you with courage,” Archbishop Emeritus Mercieca said.

Beginning his homily, Mgr Mercieca told a packed St John’s Co-Cathedral that the ordination was a moment of grace and he thanked all those who joined the congregation to follow the Episcopal ordination of Malta’s new Archbishop.

He gave thanks to God and Pope Benedict XVI for enriching the Maltese diocese with a new shepherd.

“I also want to thank our beloved Mgr Cremona, his parents and relatives with great gratitude,” Mgr Mercieca said.

The Archbishop Emeritus focused on the liturgy read during Mass; two readings that dealt with vocation and choice: one prophetic, one apostolic.

“In the first reading, Isaiah recounts the vision he had when God called him to become His prophet so that he could talk in His name and spread His word.”

He said that around 740 BC, Isaiah was praying in the Temple of Jerusalem when he found himself in front of the Lord sitting upon a throne, high up and elevated. On each side there were angels crying “Holy Holy Holy” and covering their faces, because God is too great for His servants to look at.

The angels’ cries were so vociferous that Isaiah felt the ground shake and the temple was filled with smoke. Faced with such perfection, Isaiah realised that he was a sinner and declared: “I am doomed as I am a man of unclean lips.”

Isaiah’s experience, said Mgr Mercieca, was not a dream or rhetoric. God told Moses, “No man can see me and stay alive.”

Mgr Mercieca then explained the third reading, taken from the Gospel of St Luke, which recounts the experience of a fisherman, Simon, who was called by the Lord to be one of the first Apostles.

As Jesus stood by the lake of Genesareth, he saw two boats by the lake; he went in one of the boats that belonged to Simon and asked him to cast his nets.

Simon, an experienced fisherman, only agreed because it was Jesus’ will.

So large was the catch that Simon fell to his knees in front of Jesus saying: “Distance yourself, for I am a sinner, O Lord.” But Jesus told him: “Fear not: henceforth you shall catch men.”

Mgr Mercieca said that Isaiah’s experience was repeated here.

Archbishop Emeritus Mercieca continued his homily with a message of courage and hope for the new Archbishop.

“Before the mysteries of God and the great responsibility which has been entrusted to you, today you are feeling the same fear that Isaiah experienced when God called him to become His prophet.

“My dear brother, like Isaiah, every man and bishop before you, you see yourself as a sinner and poor before God’s perfection.”

However, Mgr Mercieca yesterday called the new pastoral leader to be steadfast and look to the future with courage and not to be afraid of a ministry that “calls for sacrifice, that will present numerous difficulties, periods of loneliness and sadness”.

“Do not be afraid. God has called you to carry this responsibility, is always beside you with His grace and His strength. The Holy Spirit will fill you with courage,” Archbishop Emeritus Mercieca said.

God purified Isaiah’s lips before he sent him to preach to His people. “Similarly God will be with you our beloved new Archbishop, so that you will be able to fulfil what is expected of you. You may be overcome by fear, but the Lord God will never cease to encourage you with His intimacy.”

Mgr Mercieca said this will give him great faith, spiritual liberty and enthusiasm.

Speaking about the Gospel, Mgr Mercieca compared Simon’s big catch to the Archbishop’s mission.

The apostle’s mission started with the Lord’s words of “Draw into the deep and cast your nets”. Similarly, he said, this is what the Lord is telling the new Archbishop.

Commenting about Archbishop Cremona’s chosen motto, “Preparing the path for the Lord”, Archbishop Emeritus Mercieca said this motto shows Archbishop Cremona’s commitment to welcome the Lord throughout our lives. “I pray that the Lord is with you in every moment of your Episcopal so you will be enlightened to carry out your mission in the sprit of obedience to the Gospel, hand in hand with the Lord Jesus Christ,” he concluded.