Like a flame my hope is burning,
May my song arise to You:
Source of Life that has no ending,
On life’s path I trust in you
Refrain from the Hymn of the Jubilee 2025

When Jesus begins his ministry at the synagogue in Nazareth, he reads from the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah the words proclaiming a jubilee, in Isaiah’s classic interpretation of the “Sabbath of Sabbaths” — freedom for those held captive, forgiveness of debts and the return of property. We’re familiar in the work and academic fields with the idea of the sabbatical — a word rooted in the word “sabbath.” But it seems a bit unusual to us in the religious sphere.

The Jewish celebration of the sabbath (the seventh day, God’s Day) leads to the “Sabbath of Sabbaths” (seven years of sabbaths, seven times, equals 49 years, with the 50th year being the celebration). But this idea of jubilee is at the very heart of the ministry of Jesus: that the earth and all peoples are actually God’s earth and God’s people! And Jesus come to proclaim liberty to those bound by the troubles and sickness of this world, the forgiveness of the debts we owe one another and God, and to announce good news of hope and life to the poor and all in need.

The jubilee of the Son of God come among us in our flesh is just the beginning of a great Jubilee that does not end, until it is fulfilled when the Kingdom definitively arrives in all its fullness, at the end of time and history.

In 1300, Boniface VIII proclaimed a jubilee year, centered on the two churches in Rome dedicated to the Apostles Peter and Paul, inviting Christians on pilgrimage to these places, as a celebration of the promises of the Gospel: forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Christ. That jubilee pilgrimage brought at least two-million people to Rome. Every 25 or 50 years since, the Catholic Church has invited Christians to become pilgrims, as a reminder of our pilgrimage of faith through this life.

The year 2025 is another in the celebrations of Jubilee. On December 24, the Holy Door — an entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica only used in Jubilee years — will be opened by Pope Francis.

All 24 of the churches that make up the Catholic Church will be celebrating the Jubilee. This includes not just Roman Catholics, but Syro-Malabar (India), Byzantine (Eastern Europe), Maronite, Melkite (both originating in Lebanon) and all the various Churches that are in communion with the Bishop of Rome, as well as all Christians who wish to join the celebration and pilgrimage.

The Jubilee theme is “Pilgrims of Hope.” Pope Francis explained that he chose that theme because of all the challenges people have faced in the COVID era and its aftermath and the opportunity we now have to show solidarity with our neighbors, so that no one in need will be neglected in its aftermath.

“We must 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 far-sighted vision,” Pope Francis said. He sees the Jubilee as having a role to play in restoring a climate of hope and trust, which can be a prelude to renewal and rebirth.

This can happen, he has written, “if we are capable of recovering a sense of universal fraternity and refuse to turn a blind eye to the tragedy of rampant poverty that prevents millions of men, women, young people and children from living in a manner worthy of our human dignity.”

In the end, the Jubilee brings us back to Jesus’ parable about the Last Judgement. We find our place in the Kingdom, our inheritance, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited me in; I needed clothes and you clothed me; I was sick and you looked after me; I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:31-46 NIV)

For the Jubilee reminds us that in loving our neighbor, we are loving God — just as Jesus taught us. It’s the essence of being pilgrims — pilgrims of hope.

St. Mary’s Church, Orange, has weekend masses on Sunday at 10 a.m., and an anticipated Sunday mass at 4 p.m. Saturday in the main church; weekday masses are Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5 p.m. in the Our Lady of the Annunciation Chapel at the rectory. Family of Faith brings together the whole family for Sunday School and begins every year in October (a family gathering to register and receive materials is in September). For more information, visit www.stmaryorange.online.

Fr. Shaun O'Connor retires as the pastor of St. Mary's on Aug. 1. He was happy to discover that the word for “retirement” in Panama where he hopes to spend time, is “jubilacion.”