Today is the national holy day as Malta celebrates the day when the faith arrived on our shores. It was the day in 60 AD when St Paul was shipwrecked on the island of Malta in a fierce north-easterly storm that is graphically recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, the entire chapter 27. It is a chapter that is frequently studied by sailors, oceanographers and maritime experts since it gives detailed account of how ships moved, how currents were controlled and how people travelled by primitive boats and galleys. Then chapter 28 gives us the account of the welcome that St Paul and St Luke received by the inhabitants. This first part of this beloved chapter speaks about three great qualities the Maltese people have shown to their unexpected visitors: hospitality, kindness and generosity. We are all so honored to read these chapters in our Masses today. The most popular verse in the entire Bible for all of the Maltese people is certainly this one: "Once we were on ground, we realized that the island was called Malta. The inhabitants showed us extraordinary kindness by lighting a fire and gathering us all around it." Unfortunately, because of Covid-19, the much longed-for procession through the streets of the capital city Valletta, will not be held this year.
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