Jubilee Year 2025- In the Churches tradition The pope proclaims a jubilee every 25 years.
From Pope Francis’ writings- Jubilee is a time to re-establish our relationship with God, one another, and all of creation through acts of charity, penance, and pilgrimage. As Christians we are called to seek and spread hope in our troubled world because Jesus is the door of our salvation. Pope Francis chose the theme to be Pilgrims of Hope.
Who are our models for Pilgrims of Hope? I think of the Holy family whose feast we just celebrated this past Sunday Dec 29. There are several pilgrimages they make in Scripture: first to Bethlehem for the census and Jesus’ birth, second their flight to Egypt to keep Jesus safe from King Herod, and third their pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover when Jesus is 12. A pilgrimage for them is not convenient, they had no cars or airplanes or trains. They had to use their feet or ride on pack animals such as donkeys and journeys could take days or weeks to arrive at their destination.
The homily for this gospel that I listened to talked about FAMILY as an acronym F-Faith and forgiveness A-affirm M-? . He completely forgot what the M was and said I am having a senior moment. I-Into me you see Intimacy L-love and Y-You for others Later, after he finished the prayers of the faithful he said – this is embarrassing but the M is for Making Memories! The Holy Family definitely exhibits all these characteristics!
In Sunday’s Gospel we hear about the Holy Family’s 3rd Pilgrimage when they go to Jerusalem for Passover where Jesus stays behind in the temple. It took Mary and Joseph three days to discover Jesus was missing because they were traveling with many people in a caravan. Somehow Jesus did not communicate to them where he was going to be. Once he is found and mary says and his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” I am sure Mary did not calmly say these words she had to be a nervous wreck as any mother is upon losing a child. Jesus doesn’t apologize in the scripture but if you read between the lines he returned to Nazareth and was obedient to his parents- I imagine there was an apology issued somewhere! This is a very human story that we can relate to. This story demonstrates Faith and Forgiveness, Love and I am sure was retold as a memory for many years.
You can listen to the segment here:
