Celebrating Jubilee

Every 25 years, the Catholic Church celebrates a Jubilee Year – a sacred time for spiritual renewal, reconciliation, and acts of mercy. For the past year, the Vatican has been preparing for a record-shattering influx of 35 million visitors for Jubilee 2025, a remarkable increase from last year’s 13 million visitors to Rome.

Rooted in an Old Testament concept found in Leviticus 25, Jubilee emphasizes forgiveness of debts, release of captives, and restoration of community. While Jubilee Years such as 2025 are embedded in Catholic practice, its biblical themes resonate beyond denominational boundaries, inviting us all to reflect on God’s mercy and our call to live in faithful response.

One of the most striking symbols of the Jubilee Year is the opening of the Holy Doors in the four major basilicas of Rome, including St. Peter’s Basilica. These sealed doors are opened only during a Jubilee Year, symbolizing a special invitation for visitors to walk through them as an act of repentance and renewal. Pilgrims travel from around the world to pass through these doors once they are unsealed, embodying a faithful journey toward spiritual transformation.

As Presbyterians, the themes of Jubilee align with our Reformed emphasis on God’s sovereignty, grace, and justice. Jubilee reminds us that all we have – our time, resources, and even the land itself – ultimately belongs to God. Jubilee is a call to live generously, forgive freely, and seek restoration in our relationships and in our communities. In a world marked by division and inequality, this idea of “Jubilee” challenges us to embrace God’s vision for a more just and merciful world.

The Jubilee Year also invites us to reflect on the rhythms of our lives. In the biblical tradition, Jubilee included letting the land rest, a reminder of our dependence on God’s provision. For Presbyterians, this might mean rethinking how we approach Sabbath, work, and rest. Are we allowing space for God to renew us? Are we practicing stewardship in ways that honor God’s creation?

Ultimately, the Jubilee Year is about aligning our lives with God’s redemptive purposes. Whether or not we walk through the Holy Doors in Rome, we can embrace the spirit of Jubilee by living as agents of mercy, justice, and reconciliation in our communities. What doors might God be inviting you to open this year?