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Reflections of Caritas

October 18th, 2015 – The Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted by Kollin Petrie on Oct 14, 2015 11:47:00 AM

"So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.” – Hebrews 4:16

Pope Francis has declared an Extraordinary Jubilee – the Year of Mercy – beginning on December 8th, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. It is considered “Extraordinary,” because it is being called outside of the typical period of years between jubilees (usually 50). The last Extraordinary Jubilee was declared by the future Saint Pope John Paul II in 1983 to celebrate 1950 years since the Lord’s death and resurrection.

The idea of a jubilee has a rich history with roots in the Old Testament. The word itself comes from the Hebrew jobel, meaning a “ram’s horn”, in reference to the instrument that was used to proclaim the start of the special year. As we learn in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, every seventh day was to be a Sabbath – a day of rest. Likewise, every seventh year was to be a Sabbatical year, during which fields were to lie fallow and farming was to cease. The Jubilee Year was to be celebrated immediately following every seven Sabbatical years (i.e., in the 50th year). 

To commemorate the Jubilee, the Jewish people were supposed to let the soil rest by not planting or harvesting any crops for a year. Land was to be returned to the original owners who had been forced to sell it because of destitution, and people whose poverty had pushed them into slavery were to be set free. 

Celebration of the Jubilee was an act of great trust. It required a lot of faith in God’s providence to not harvest any food for a year. It also challenged the people to practice true justice by reconciling with their neighbors and returning to a deeper relationship with the Lord. Pope Francis is calling us to do the same during this Jubilee Year of Mercy. 

He has said that he wants this year to be “a living experience of the closeness of the Father” (Jubilee Letter, 9/1/15). He wants us to draw near to Jesus, “the face of the Father’s mercy” (Misericordiae Vultus, 1). He wants us to have faith in God’s unfathomably deep love and mercy, just like the Israelite farmers who were willing to trust the Lord and let their fields lie fallow. 

Then, once we have experienced God’s mercy, what else can we do but be merciful to others in return? Let us truly make this a Year of Mercy by feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, and forgiving those who have wronged us.


Merciful Father, forgive us of our sins. Our hope rests in your love. Be pleased to accept our confession and heal our contrite hearts. Make us instruments of your justice for the poor and mercy toward all who have trespassed against us. We ask this through Christ our Lord, amen.

 

About this blog

Each Wednesday, Rev. Father Frank Kyazze writes a blog reflecting his experiences with CARITAS & also on the core mission of CARITAS: Jesus' calling to "Love One Another." Fr. Frank is the first Seminarian of CARITAS For Children to be ordained. He is currently assigned to St. Joseph Minor Seminary in Nyenga, Uganda, as Dean of Studies. He is also a member of the Diocese of Lugazi, Uganda and sits on the CARITAS Board of Advisors.frank 3

 

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