On 26th February, Imam Mohamed El Sadi, together with 200 fellow Muslims, gathered at the Paola mosque to pray for rain. Allah did not hear their prayers. In fact, Malta had the worst winter drought in half a century.
At about the same time, the Bishop of Gozo led a “penitential pilgrimage”, complete with crucifix, statue and candles, to ask the Christian God – consisting of a Trinity – for rain. Both he and the imam expected their respective Gods to send rain to Malta and Gozo while children were starving and perishing in drought-stricken Africa.
Superstition survives in the 21st century. The bishop and the imam think that rain pours down in response to prayers and pilgrimages rather than according to the impersonal laws of nature.
God did not respond to prayers by the Vicars of Christ for peace in the Middle East. The chances that He will respond to prayers for rain are nil.
Even in the so-called “Year of Mercy”, when the “holy doors” of “infinite” love and mercy are supposed to be wide open, God has to be placated with prayers and pilgrimages in the dim hope that He'll send rain to Malta – to no avail!
Instead of sending rain where it is urgently needed in drought-stricken Africa and India, Divine Providence brought down a deluge on France and Germany – with devastating results to human life and property!
John Guillaumier
St Julian's