Mudell għall-Knisja f’Malta

-- H.E. Most. Rev. Paul CREMONA, O.P., Archbishop of Malta, President of the Episcopal Conference (MALTA)

I shall be speaking in the context of traditionally Catholic Countries like Malta. Whenever we speak of a new Evangelization, we find a stumbling-block. Many of our faithful still live in nostalgia of, and compare the present situation, with the model of the Church that was present 30 to 40 years ago. Since the Catholic Church has not remained in a privileged position as it was then, they live in an atmosphere of shock when the Church, or its Pastors, are challenged. Many times they stand in fear of speaking openly before this, many times, hostile culture.

We need to go out of this traumatic experience to enter into a new evangelization. We have to help the faithful recognize that that kind of Church does not exist anymore, and it cannot be proposed again in this changed world. We cannot continue comparing our reality to that reality.We have to propose a new model of being Church and the model which corresponds most to today's reality is the primitive Christian community as it is described in chapters 2 and 4 of the Acts of the Apostles, and brought to life in the other writings of the New Testament. We have to compare the We have to compare the Church today to, and shape it on, that community.Church today to, and shape it on, that community.

[Original text: English]

Atti 2,1-4

Atti 2,5-13

Atti 2,14-41

Atti 2,42L-erba’ pilastri ta’ Knisja ħajja u L-erba’ pilastri ta’ Knisja ħajja u

dinamika:dinamika:• jżommu sħiħ fit-tagħlim tal-jżommu sħiħ fit-tagħlim tal-

AppostliAppostli• fl-għaqda ta’ bejniethom fl-għaqda ta’ bejniethom

(koinonia = jaqsmu kollox (koinonia = jaqsmu kollox bejniethom)bejniethom)

• fl-Ewkaristija (il-qsim tal-Ħobż)fl-Ewkaristija (il-qsim tal-Ħobż)• fit-talb flimkienfit-talb flimkien

Atti 2,43-47“Dawk kollha li kienu jemmnu kienu ħaġa waħda, u kienu jaqsmu kollox bejniethom... kuljum kienu jmorru fit-tempju flimkien, jaqsmu l-Ħobż fi djarhom u jissieħbu fl-ikel bi qlub ferħana u safja; u kienu jfaħħru lil Alla ... u minn jum għall-ieħor il-Mulej kien iżidilhom magħhom lil dawk li jkunu salvi.”

Atti 4,1-22

• San Pietru u San Ġwann jagħtu xhieda San Pietru u San Ġwann jagħtu xhieda qalbenija bil-kliem u bil-mirakli ta’ qalbenija bil-kliem u bil-mirakli ta’ fejqan quddiem il-kapijiet tal-Lhud.fejqan quddiem il-kapijiet tal-Lhud.

• Eluf ikomplu jiżdidu.Eluf ikomplu jiżdidu.

• San Pietru u San Ġwann jixhdu San Pietru u San Ġwann jixhdu quddiem il-kbarat li Ġesù hu s-salvatur quddiem il-kbarat li Ġesù hu s-salvatur uniku tal-bnedmin. Il-fidi fih biss tiswa.uniku tal-bnedmin. Il-fidi fih biss tiswa.

Atti 4,23-31

Atti 4,32-37

“... dawk li emmnu kienu qalb waħda u ruħ waħda ... kellhom kollox flimkien... b’qawwa

kbira l-appostli kienu jagħtu xhieda tal-qawmien tal-Mulej Ġesù ... kien jitqassam kollox skond il-ħtieġa ta’ kull wieħed...”

ILLUM FL-FFC

• U aħna, x’mudell ta’ Knisja aħna?

• Kieku wliedna kellhom iqabblu l-Knisja li nsibu f’Atti 2 u 4, kienu jagħrfu li aħna l-istess knisja, l-istess komunità?