In Rome, on the evening of December 24, 2024, and in all other Dioceses around the world on December 29, 2024, the Church will witness the opening of under the theme Pilgrims of Hope. We can all agree that it is the most fitting theme for the times in which we live, as it speaks to the reason for the coming of Christ at the first Christmas, that is, the hope of salvation for all humanity.
From the “Fall” of Genesis 3 to the “birth” of Christ, as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew chapter 1 and Luke chapter 2, hope was the principal force that gave purpose to the two millennia of this Divine-human journey. Then the Nativity of Christ, which brought fulfilment to that relationship another two millennia ago, became the object of a new hope — this time, for ultimate salvation, to which all Christians look forward.
In the first leg of the Divine-human journey, every fiftieth year was to be a jubilee year, during which time slaves would be emancipated, debts would be forgiven, and even the land would be allowed to rest. That year was set by counting off ‘seven Sabbaths of years,’ or seven times seven years, which would be forty-nine years. The fiftieth year was to be a holy year of the Lord!
In the second leg of that journey – the Christian era, after the first jubilee in 1300, the recurrence of the celebration was set to be every 100 years. Then in 1342 it was reduced again to 50 years. Subsequently, in the mid-15th century, it was further reduced to 25 years, which is what exists today.
This Christmas, therefore, ushers in a spirit of Jubilee. What a privileged time it is for the Church Universal! What a favoured time it is for our Archdiocese! To enter this very moment believing that God “WILL” do great things with “US” if “WE” are so disposed, is itself a grace.
Therefore, I invite everyone to embrace this year of Jubilee with great expectation. God kept His promise in sending us a Saviour in the person of the Christ-Child, even while we were still sinners (Cf. Rom 5:8). We are confident that He will come again this Jubilee Year with forgiveness and reconciliation, renewal of mind and spirit, rejuvenation of faith, and a firm desire to return to right relationship with God and our neighbour.
We can be inspired by St. Augustine’s wise caveat for both the personal and communal engagements that are required in this coming Jubilee Year. He affirmes that, “God willed us into existence without our permission. However, He will not save us without us.” It is another way of saying that salvation is in our hands if we are wise enough to capitalise on the gifts available to us towards that end. This Jubilee Year with its call to be Pilgrims of Hope, is one such gift. Let us all embrace it and find salvation!
I take this opportunity to wish all our leaders, both civil and religious, a happy and spirit-filled Christmas. May the Lord shower His blessings on all professionals, educators and public servants, those in the health and private sectors, the hospitality industry, entrepreneurs, farmers and fisher folks, in fact all and sundry. May this Yuletide Season and the coming Jubilee Year, truly be a time of grace and renewal for all.
Merry Christmas to you and your family and A holy and productive Jubilee Year 2025.