Maltese society has indeed changed over the past 50 years. Our monuments are no longer reflections of ourselves, our values and principles. We are no longer proud of our monuments; perhaps we should put up a life-size statue of Niccolò Machiavelli.
An imaginary landscape of our society would have no mountains or deep valleys, but only plateaus, i.e. hypocrisy and the hiding of the truth.
We are fast equating adolescence with maturity.
Our ‘Me generation’ reasons: “I am OK, you are OK” and “Future generations will take care of themselves”.
We have lost the abiding joy flowing from deep inner freedom. Bombarded on every side by attractive materialism, we have become slaves to the power that wishes us evil.
The prevalence of all sorts of emotional, spiritual and relational problems show how much we are living outside our true selves, in the false selves encouraged by the demons of greed.
Many people do not invest in religion. They close off the deeper part of themselves, and live superficial, false lives. They do not even acknowledge or are aware that there is more than meets the eye. For these people, even marriage (so very costly today), is a struggle for possession of the other, not letting the other possess you.
It is an exercise in greed, with its own rules of the game, as is suitable. Gone is the deep, profound, lasting and abiding joy of total self-giving, without preconditions, to love totally, and to be totally loved – the joy of full surrender.
Not wanting to receive love, we have adopted a cynical attitude to love, pretending we are wise. All kinds of quasi-intimate relationships try to mimic the marriage of Christ and his Bride. They are no substitutes and do not involve the deepest heart.
We seek joy in vain in big musical celebrations, in lots of travelling, careers, large salaries, clubs, and in success. We have become an island of the living dead, losing our personhood, the great gift that God has given to each of us. All will come to an end, except the person that is the real you.
Why surrender your true self to please people who do not really care about you? Why ignore your true, deeper treasures for glittering nonsense?
Do you remember the story of the Prodigal Son? He enjoyed himself, as we are doing now, and he lost his personhood, and was treated no better than an animal, as is happening to us now.
“I will get up and go to my Father.” The journey may involve going from one place to another, but deep down it is a journey into your own inmost heart where the One who gifts you with your self, and loves you unconditionally, dwells. Love God, love yourself and love others.