Recently, Pope Francis gave a series of reflections concerning the Church and how God keeps shepherding his flock with generous love through the ordained ministry of bishops, priests and deacons.
In his weekly catechesis of 12 November, the Holy Father spoke about the qualities that form the "alphabet", which ministers should possess in order to adequately serve their flocks. He said: "Only by acknowledging that their ministry is an unmerited gift of God's mercy, that bishops, priests and deacons can serve their brothers and sisters with humility, generosity, wisdom and compassion, and thus build up the Church's communion in faith and love." A healing thought to inspire a young priest in order to continue on his priestly journey!
Some days ago, a friend phoned me up. He told me that he wanted to talk. Obviously, I gave him an appointment to come to the friary where I live and have a chat there. But life is full of surprises. One plans one thing and then finishes up doing the same thing in another manner.
The day when he had to come turned out to be a fabulous sunny day. The beauty of the day was such that it was certainly impossible to have a chat in a room with the lights switched on. So we both decided to find an alternative place where we could talk. Without realising it I said: "Why don't we go to SmartCity?" My friend quickly agreed. We drove down the road to Cospicua, Kalkara and then to SmartCity.
I never really got a chance to visit this technology park since it was unveiled on 10 September 2007. We arrived at SmartCity around noon and I was immediately struck by the vastness of the technology park; the whole development covers an area of 36,000 square metres. It is estimated that it shall be completed by 2021.
Walking around the huge pool that was built facing the splendid Mediterranean Sea, coupled of course by two huge buildings with cafeterias makes SmartCity a place you would want to visit. As we walked around the pool, my friend started pouring his heart out and I could sense the deep peace there was around.
The deep blue of the sea and sky gave me the impression of depth, stability, trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth and, obviously, heaven. The more we stared at the blueness of heaven and the deep blue of the sea, the more both of us came to the conclusion that the colour blue is beneficial to the mind and body. It tends to slow the metabolism, producing a calming effect.
That calming effect made me delve more and more into the great healing words which God's Word has for those who approach it with a humble heart. The subsequent phrases kept coming into my heart as we walked leisurely around this wonderful place. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid" (John 14:27). "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me" (John 14:1). "And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, 'Save us, Lord; we are perishing.' And he said to them, 'Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?' Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. And the men marvelled, saying, 'What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?'" (Matt 8: 24-27).
From this experience at SmartCity Malta I could easily understand Pope Benedict XVI's reflection in Verbum Domini when he said: "Sacred Scripture contains countless pages which speak of the consolation, support and healing which God brings" (no. 61).
If it is true that the sea expresses a collection of truths at SmartCity, I could integrate one lasting truth: God is infinite peace of heart and mind!
Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap
Paola