First Reading: Neh 8:2-4a.5-6.8-10; Psalm: 19. R. v. Jn 6:63c; Second Reading: 1 Cor 12:12-30; Gospel: Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21

THE JUBILEE YEAR

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

The Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church is celebrated every 25 years. At first it was celebrated every 100 years. It was then shortened to every 50 years, and later on to every 25 years. In case you are wondering why this reflection is beginning on this note as we mark the Third Sunday of ordinary time, year C; it is because Christ in our gospel reading of today referenced this celebration as he proclaimed his mission statement to the hearing of his people in the synagogue in Nazareth.

What is a Jubilee Year? A Jubilee Year is a holy year of forgiveness of sins. It is a celebration that dates back to the Old Testament Scriptures. The word “jubilee” comes from the Hebrew word “yobel” which refers to the ram’s horn used to announce a jubilee in the Old Testament. Leviticus 25:10 gives us a clear picture of what a jubilee year was like in the Old Testament: “And you shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants; it shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his family.” A jubilee year for the Hebrew people therefore was a year of grace, freedom and restoration when lands and properties forcefully taken are returned to the rightful owners, slaves freed to return to their families, debts cancelled, and lands left uncultivated as a sign of contrition. It was a time that Israel made these efforts to restore a good relationship with God and with one another.

In our gospel of today, Christ declared his mission statement quoting the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, the opening of the prison to those who are bound; and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Is 61:1-2). Biblical scholars agreed that the proclaimed ‘year of favour’ by Christ hints to the Hebrew custom of observing a jubilee year (Lev 25:8-55), and a sign that Israel’s hope of salvation is being realised in Christ. Hence, Christ said, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (v. 21). Through his ministry, Christ will fulfil this prophecy by healing us of our diseases, setting us free from the slavery of sin, reconciling us to God our Father, and cancelling our sins forever.

This mission of Christ is continued by the Church today through the Pope, bishops, priests and religious, and the entire people of God. Pope Francis has designated ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ as the theme of the Jubilee Year 2025. He proclaimed this in his Papal Bull Spes Non Confundit (Hope does not disappoint: Rom5:5); and calls on all Christian faithful to “fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart, and a far-sighted vision.” We can do this by placing all our hopes in the redemptive mission of Christ and in his promises. Our hope in the mission and promises of Christ must not wilt because Christ continues his mission of redemption through his Church. So, as a Church, the one body of Christ, we are called to reap the fruits of the Jubilee Year 2025. And how can we do this?

1. Plenary Indulgence: Every Jubilee Year is a year of grace when the Church grants plenary indulgence to the Christian faithful. Plenary indulgence is the grace of forgiveness for the temporal punishment due to sin already forgiven. But the Christian faithful may only obtain this favour (the cancellation of all temporal punishments including the pain of purgatory) by meeting certain conditions: confession, holy communion, praying for the Pope’s intention, and sincere contrition.
2. Works of Mercy: The Christian faithful is called to carry out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy so as to reap the fruits of the Jubilee Year. The corporal works of mercy are: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick, visiting the prisoners, and burying the dead. The spiritual works of mercy are: instructing the ignorant, counselling the doubtful, admonishing sinners, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving wrongs willingly, comforting the sorrowful, and praying for the living and the dead.
3. Pilgrimages: Visits to the Basilicas in Rome, the Holy Land, diocesan cathedrals and other sacred places to offer prayers are also part of the spiritual exercises to be observed this Jubilee Year.

These spiritual exercises are our own way of continuing the redemptive mission of Christ who came to preach the good news to the poor, release to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, freedom to those who are oppressed and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. Through plenary indulgence we seek reconciliation with God and man and work out our salvation. By observing the works of mercy, we bring relieve to captives and the suffering, consolation to the sorrowful and the oppressed, and hope to the hopeless. And through pilgrimages we build our spiritual life. It will take another 25 years for us to celebrate another Jubilee Year. So, let us seize this opportunity to seek the face of God and be reconciled to him that we might gain the plenary indulgence God promises.         

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, we hope and believe in the promises of your redemptive mission; help us by your grace to carry on this mission of salvation every moment of our lives. Amen.