Il-Ħadd, 8 ta’ Frar 2026: Omelija mill-Isqof Awżiljarju Mons. Joe Galea Curmi fil-Ħames Ħadd tas-Sena u fl-okkażjoni tat-12-il Jum Dinji ta’ Talb u Kuxjenza kontra t-Traffikar tal-Bnedmin. Knisja tal-Bon Pastur, Balzan.
Omelija mill-Isqof Awżiljarju Mons. Joe Galea Curmi
Il-Kelma ta’ Alla li smajna llum ma tħallilniex spazju għall-indifferenza. Permezz tal-Profeta Isaija, Alla jitkellem b’mod ċar u qawwi dwar x’tip ta’ qima tassew togħġbu: “Mhux li taqsam ħobżok ma’ min hu bil-ġuħ, u ddaħħal f’darek lill-imsejken bla saqaf? Mhux li tlibbes lil min hu għarwien, u n-nies ta’ darek ma tinsihomx?” (Isaija 58:7).
Il-ħolma ta’ Alla għad-dinjità tal-bniedem
Din mhix xi esaġerazzjoni poetika. Din hija l-ħolma ta’ Alla għall-umanità: dinja fejn ħadd ma jitqies bħala oġġett li jintrema. Soċjetà fejn il-vulnerabbli ma jkunux moħbija, sfruttati jew imsikkta.
It-traffikar tal-bnedmin huwa kontradizzjoni diretta ta’ din il-ħolma. Huwa wieħed mill-aktar ksur brutali tad-dinjità tal-bniedem fi żmienna: fejn irġiel, nisa u tfal jittieħdu għall-merkanzija; fejn il-ġisem jinxtara u jinbiegħ; fejn il-libertà tinsteraq u t-tama tinqered. Kif qal Papa Ljun XIV fil-messaġġ tiegħu għat-Tnax-il Jum Dinji kontra t-Traffikar tal-Bnedmin: dan huwa “reat gravi kontra l-umanità”.
U t-traġedja hi li dan ir-reat ħafna drabi jiffjorixxi fid-dlam, fis-skiet u fl-indifferenza.
Dnub li jgħajjat lis-Sema
It-traffikar tal-bnedmin mhuwiex biss problema soċjali. Mhuwiex biss falliment politiku. Huwa dnub gravi, għaliex jolqot il-qalba tal-persuna umana maħluqa fuq ix-xbieha ta’ Alla.
Kull persuna traffikata hija marbuta bi ktajjen inġusti. Kull ħajja sfruttata ġġorr madmad impost mir-regħba, il-vjolenza u l-qerq. U Alla jitkellem b’mod ċar: dawn il-ktajjen irridu nkissruhom. Il-Knisja ma tistax tibqa’ newtrali. Fidi li ma tweġibx għat-tbatija ssir ritwal vojt. Talb li ma jwassalx għall-azzjoni jsir biss ħoss.
Melħ u Dawl
Fl-Evanġelju, Ġesù jgħidilna: “Intom il-melħ tal-art… Intom id-dawl tad-dinja” (Mattew 5:13-14). Il-melħ jippreserva, jagħti t-togħma u jwaqqaf it-taħsir. Id-dawl jikxef dak li hu moħbi u jmexxi lil dawk li jimxu fid-dlam.
Quddiem it-traffikar tal-bnedmin, dan il-kliem isir missjoni. Li nkunu melħ ifisser li nirrifjutaw li s-soċjetà titħassar bl-indifferenza. Li nkunu dawl ifisser li nikxfu sistemi ta’ sfruttament, anki meta dan ma jkunx komdu. Is-skiet jipproteġi lit-traffikant. Id-dlam jipprovdi kenn għall-abbuż. Iżda d-dawl ta’ Kristu jikxef il-verità u jerġa’ jagħti d-dinjità.
Il-Knisja mhijiex imsejħa biex tintelaq fis-soċjetà, imma biex isemma’ leħinha. Mhijiex imsejħa biex taħbi d-dawl, imma biex tpoġġih “fuq l-imnara” (Mattew 5:15).
Kompassjoni li twassal għall-azzjoni
Isaija jagħtina wegħda qawwija: “Imbagħad ifiġġ bħaż-żernieq id-dawl tiegħek, u malajr tagħlaqlek il-ġerħa tiegħek. Quddiemek timxi l-ġustizzja tiegħek, u l-glorja tal-Mulej timxi warajk. Jekk biss issejjaħlu, iwieġeb il-Mulej…”(Isaija 58:8-9). Innotaw l-ordni: l-azzjoni tiġi l-ewwel. Il-ġustizzja tiftaħ it-triq għall-barka. Il-ħniena tnissel il-fejqan.
Huwa għalhekk li l-ħidma tal-Kummissjoni Djoċesana Ġustizzja u Paċi u tas-Sorijiet tar-Ragħaj it-Tajjeb, kif ukoll ta’ dawk kollha li huma involuti f’dan il-ministeru u qed joħolqu kuxjenza dwar it-traffikar tal-bnedmin, mhijiex karità fakultattiva; hija l-Evanġelju fl-azzjoni.
Illum nitolbu l-interċessjoni ta’ Santa Ġużeppina Bakhita, is-soru Kanossjana mwielda fis-Sudan u l-ewwel qaddisa Kattolika ta’ ġilda sewda tal-epoka moderna. Meta kienet għadha żgħira, inħatfet minn negozjanti tal-iskjavi u nbiegħet diversi drabi. Hija sabet il-libertà fl-Italja u llum hija l-patruna tal-vittmi tal-iskjavitù. Fi kliem il-Papa Ljun XIV, hi “xhieda qawwija ta’ tama fil-Mulej li ħabbha sal-aħħar”. Santa Ġużeppina tfakkarna li Kristu jmur ifittex lil dawk li spiċċaw fil-periferiji, b’mod speċjali lin-nisa u t-tfajliet midruba mill-vjolenza, l-isfruttament u l-abbandun.
Hija ispirazzjoni għal dawk kollha li jaħdmu kontra t-traffikar tal-bnedmin. Il-preżenza tagħhom tgħid lil kull vittma: Narawk, nemmnuk, m’intix waħdek. Dan hu li jfisser li nħallu d-dawl tagħna jiddi: mhux biex niġbdu l-attenzjoni fuqna nfusna, imma biex nirriflettu l-wiċċ ta’ Kristu.
Ir-risposta Nisranija tagħna
Għeżież ħuti, il-mistoqsija llum mhijiex: It-traffikar tal-bnedmin qed iseħħ? Nafu li qed iseħħ, u li huwa mifrux. Il-mistoqsija hi: X’se nagħmlu dwaru?
Ir-risposta tagħna trid tkun konkreta. Iċ-ċelebrazzjoni tal-lum issejħilna b’mod speċjali biex:
- Inkunu konxji – nirrifjutaw li nagħlqu għajnejna, nedukaw ruħna, inkissru s-skiet.
- Inkunu attenti – nagħrfu sinjali ta’ sfruttament fil-komunitajiet tagħna, sinjali li kultant ikunu moħbija.
- Inkunu mimlija kompassjoni – nappoġġjaw lill-vittmi b’rispett, paċenzja u kura.
- Inkunu profetiċi – neħduha kontra sistemi li jibbenefikaw mit-tbatija tal-bniedem.
- Inkunu impenjati – bit-talb, billi naqbżu għal min qed ibati u nuru solidarjetà.
- Inkunu magħqudin – noħolqu u nsaħħu networking bejn entitajiet ispirati mill-fidi, għaqdiet volontarji u l-Istat.
Kull att żgħir jgħodd. Kull dawl, anki jekk ċkejken, ineħħi d-dlam.
Nagħtu glorja lill-Missier
Ġesù jikkonkludi: “Hekk għandu jiddi d-dawl tagħkom quddiem il-bnedmin, biex jaraw l-għemejjel tajba tagħkom u jagħtu glorja lil Missierkom li hu fis-smewwiet” (Mattew 5:16).
Meta niddefendu d-dinjità tal-vittmi tat-traffikar, meta noqogħdu mal-isfruttati, meta naħdmu għall-ġustizzja u l-paċi, inħabbru mhux biss bil-kliem imma bil-ħajja tagħna li s-Saltna ta’ Alla diġà qed tidħol f’din id-dinja.
Papa Ljun XIV iħeġġiġna nduru lejn it-talb u l-għarfien quddiem dawn l-isfidi gravi ta’ żmienna: “It-talb huwa l-‘fjamma żgħira’ li rridu nħarsu f’nofs il-maltemp, għax jagħtina s-saħħa biex nirreżistu l-indifferenza quddiem l-inġustizzja. L-għarfien jgħinna nidentifikaw il-mekkaniżmi moħbija ta’ sfruttament fil-viċinanzi tagħna u fl-ispazji diġitali. Fl-aħħar mill-aħħar, il-vjolenza tat-traffikar tal-bnedmin tista’ tingħeleb biss permezz ta’ viżjoni mġedda li tara lil kull individwu bħala wild maħbub ta’ Alla.”
Illum nesprimu l-gratitudni tagħna lil kull min jagħti servizz bħala l-idejn ta’ Kristu billi jilħaq lill-vittmi tat-traffikar. Jalla l-Mulej iberikhom għall-kuraġġ, il-fedeltà u l-impenn bla heda tagħhom. Jalla din l-Ewkaristija ssaħħaħna lkoll biex insiru melħ li jippreserva t-tama, dawl li jikxef l-inġustizzja, u xhieda ta’ mħabba li tirrifjuta li tabbanduna lill-persuni vulnerabbli. U jalla l-Mulej jagħtina l-kuraġġ biex niżguraw li l-ħajja umana ma titqies qatt bħala oġġett li jintrema, imma dejjem tiġi rikonoxxuta bħala sagra.
Joseph Galea Curmi
Isqof Awżiljarju
Sunday, 8th February 2026: Homily by Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi on the occasion of the 12th World Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking. Chapel of the Good Shepherd, Balzan.
Homily by Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi
The Word of God we have heard today leaves us with no room for indifference. Through the prophet Isaiah, God speaks clearly and forcefully about the kind of worship that truly pleases him: “Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless, clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own” (Isaiah 58:7).
God’s dream for human dignity
This is not poetic exaggeration. It is God’s dream for humanity. A world where no one is treated as disposable. A society where the vulnerable are not hidden, exploited, or silenced.
Human trafficking is a direct contradiction of this dream. It is one of the most brutal violations of human dignity in our time: where men, women, and children are reduced to commodities; where bodies are bought and sold; where freedom is stolen and hope is crushed. As Pope Leo XIV has said in his message marking the 12th World Day against Human Trafficking: it is “a grave crime against humanity”.
And the tragedy is that this crime often thrives in darkness, silence, and indifference.
A sin that cries out to Heaven
Human trafficking is not only a social problem. It is not only a political failure. It is a grave sin, because it strikes at the heart of the human person created in the image of God.
Every trafficked person is bound by unjust chains. Every exploited life bears a yoke imposed by greed, violence, and deception. And God says clearly: This must be broken. The Church cannot remain neutral. Faith that does not respond to suffering becomes empty ritual. Prayer that does not lead to action becomes just noise.
Salt and Light
In the Gospel, Jesus tells us: “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13.14). Salt preserves, gives flavour, and prevents decay. Light reveals what is hidden and guides those who walk in darkness.
In the face of human trafficking, these words become a mission. To be salt means refusing to let society rot in indifference. To be light means exposing systems of exploitation, even when it is uncomfortable. Silence protects the trafficker. Darkness shelters abuse. But the light of Christ reveals the truth and restores dignity.
The Church is not called to blend in, but to stand out. Not to dim the light, but to place it “on a lampstand” (Matthew 5:15).
Compassion that moves to action
Isaiah gives us a powerful promise: “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn… Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer” (Matthew 58:8.9). Notice the order: action comes first. Justice opens the way for blessing. Mercy unleashes healing.
This is why the work of the Diocesan Commission for Justice and Peace and the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, and all those involved in this ministry, who are creating awareness on human trafficking, is not optional charity; it is Gospel in action.
Today, we pray for the intercession of Saint Josephine Bakhita, the Sudanese-born Canossian nun and the first female Black Catholic saint of the modern era. When still young, she was kidnapped by slave traders and sold several times. She found freedom in Italy, and is now the patron saint of victims of slavery. She is “a powerful witness of hope in the Lord who loved her to the end” (Leo XIV). Saint Josephine reminds us that Christ goes in search of those who have been pushed to the margins, especially women and girls wounded by violence, exploitation, and abandonment.
She is an inspiration to all those working against human trafficking. Their presence tells survivors: You are seen. You are believed. You are not alone. This is what it means to let our light shine: not to draw attention to ourselves, but to reflect the face of Christ.
Our Christian Response
Dear brothers and sisters, the question today is not: Is human trafficking happening? We know it is, and it is widespread. The question is: What will we do about it?
Our response must be concrete. Today’s celebration has a special call to us all:
- Be aware – refusing to look away, educating ourselves, breaking the silence.
- Be vigilant – recognising signs of exploitation in our communities, signs which, at times, may be hidden.
- Be compassionate – supporting survivors with respect, patience, and care.
- Be prophetic – challenging systems that profit from human suffering.
- Be committed – through prayer, advocacy, and solidarity.
- Be united – create and strengthen networking between faith-based entities, voluntary groups, and the State.
Every small act matters. Every light, however small, pushes back the darkness.
Glorifying our Father
Jesus concludes: “Your light must shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16).
When we defend the dignity of the victims of trafficking, when we stand with the exploited, when we work for justice and peace, we proclaim not only with words, but with our lives, that God’s Kingdom is already breaking into this world.
Pope Leo XIV encourages us to turn to prayer and awareness when facing these grave challenges today: “Prayer is the ‘small flame’ that we must guard amidst the storm, as it gives us the strength to resist indifference to injustice. Awareness enables us to identify the hidden mechanisms of exploitation in our neighbourhoods and in digital spaces. Ultimately, the violence of human trafficking can be overcome only through a renewed vision that beholds every individual as a beloved child of God”.
Today, we express our gratitude to everyone who serves as the hands of Christ by reaching out to victims of trafficking. May the Lord bless them for their courage, fidelity and tireless commitment. May this Eucharist strengthen us all to become salt that preserves hope, light that exposes injustice, and witnesses of a love that refuses to abandon the wounded. And may the Lord grant us the courage to ensure that no human life is ever treated as disposable, but always recognised as sacred.
✠ Joseph Galea-Curmi
Auxiliary Bishop of Malta
Source: www.knisja.mt
Photo: www.knisja.mt/ritratti