Unusual kindness to St Paul

On February 10 of each year, our nation celebrates the miraculous and providential arriving on our islands of St Paul, the Apostles of the Gentiles. His coming to Malta is dramatically documented by St Luke, in chapters 27 and 28 of the Acts of the Apostles.

Perhaps what sticks to our minds and hearts, as we attentively read or listen to this account, is the warm hospitality received by St Paul and his companions on their way to Rome. "And the natives showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold." (Acts 28, 2).

In his rhetoric style, St John Chrysostom extols the kind heartedness of the Maltese people. He does this in his 54th homily on the book of the Acts of the Apostles.

"They showed no small kindness, and yet (some of them) were prisoners. Let those be ashamed that say, Do not do good to those in prison: let these barbarians shame us; for they knew not who these men were, but simply because they were in misfortune (they were kind): thus much they perceived, that they were human beings, and therefore they considered them to have a claim upon their humanity."

For Chrysostom, the Maltese acted the way they did because they could feel the great suffering St Paul and his companions were experiencing. In their genuineness, they afforded him humane treatment.

In the face of such unusual kindness, God lavishly imparts his saving grace on the merciful givers. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." (Matt 5, 7). In Pope John Paul II's words, "the goodness of the Maltese people was met by the the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour". (Tit 3:4) (Address of the Holy Father, Gudja International Airport, May 8, 2001).

Throughout the ages, the Maltese have been extraordinary "cheerful giver[s]" (2 Cor 9, 7). Their warm, sincere and attentive hospitality have singled them out as one of the most caring and loving peoples under the sun. May those of us Maltese who are falling short of this biblical virtue be encouraged by Christ's assuring words: "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me." (Matt 25, 40).