JUBILEE OF HOPE

The Church is now in a year of Jubilee. I truly hope that you, who read or hear of this letter, live the Jubilee Year with the force of life through the presence of the Lord in your heart. The Holy Spirit is the strength and power for you as a child of God the Father.

What does Jubilee mean? This word comes from the Hebrew “yobel” or “jobel” and refers to the ram’s horn, the Shofar, that was used to announce the beginning of this celebration. In ancient Judaism, the Jubilee year was declared Holy, as the Mosaic law marked it as the year re-establishing relationships with God, one another and all creation. This happens every 50 years. In the Catholic Church, in the year 1300, Boniface VIII established this time would be celebrated every 100 years. With the passage of the centuries, Pope Clement VI reduced it to 50 years and later Pope Paul II fixed it at every 25 years. The first Jubilee was celebrated in 1475. The Jubilee has all the characteristics of God’s merciful Love, Hope, and Forgiveness.

As members of the Church, we will celebrate it in 2025 as a way to remember how God the Father and His Son manifest themselves in us during these months. What lessons can we learn and practice? Jesus said “I will be with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20). He also said “I will not leave you orphans; I will come back to visit you” (Jn 14:18). These promises should fill us with Hope, even when we pass by or walk through valleys of suffering. Hope means seeing beyond what is in front of us, for example, whenever we are suffering being able to see beyond the immediate pain believing that we will not always suffer like this and this suffering is part of a Divine Plan; if I believe and persevere, that is Hope. Jesus is our Hope, both here and in the future and our Eternal Life.

In times of Jubilee, God asked His people to be generous with others, with strangers, the widows, the poor, and to forgive the debts owed them. This became a celebration full of happiness and joy. The same is true in Heaven, where “there is a joyful celebration every time a sinner repents,” as Jesus told us (Lk 15:7).

At the beginning of each New Year, most people make plans, resolutions and goals, which is good. However, the first thing our plans should contemplate is God and ask Him for the Wisdom to know what we should truly try to achieve in the coming months. In the spiritual arena, we should begin by seeking God’s Forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and extend such forgiveness to those who have offended us, while at the same time asking for forgiveness from those we have offended. The next thing would be to truly resolve to be more generous with the three T’s. What are the three T’s? Our Time, by serving others, our Treasure, by contributing to meet the needs of the Church and it’s Evangelization and our Talents, by putting them at the service of God and neighbor; by doing so, our faith will not be dead, but a true celebration of the Jubilee through our deeds. Catholicism is something you do and the Jubilee is a special year of doing. The Jubilee is not only about celebrating and receiving plenary indulgences but using the Love received from the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to act.

At the beginning of His Mission, Jesus laid out His work plan for the coming months when He entered a synagogue and showed what He had come for, to fulfill the Year of Grace. This Jubilee will be a year of Grace provided we apply the teachings of Jesus (Lk 4:16-21). The Virgin Mary, a woman full of Faith and Hope, taught us how to face suffering by standing firm as she saw her Son nailed to the Cross. Undoubtedly, she trusted the Lord’s Promises and demonstrated that we must see beyond suffering. Thank you, Mother of Hope! Amen.

I still have fresh in my memory and in my heart the words of the Holy Father during the meeting we had on November 28, 2024; three hundred members of ESNE, now comprising the I am the 73rd community, were received in private audience by Pope Francis, who imparted his apostolic blessing to all of us who serve in the work of the Church as volunteers, employees, ambassadors, servants, and also you, dear Sowers of Jesus with Mary “and today we have a great need for disciples who continue the mission entrusted by the Lord, evangelizing also through the media. Thank you for the work you do”. – Pope Francis

These words resonate in my heart and urge me to act in continuing the Mission, that none shall perish but all be saved.

I thank you for your generosity and support during this time of Jubilee. Your contributions have changed millions of lives over the past 40 years and will continue to change millions more lives through ESNE’s Mission. The time is now, today, more than ever, we need your financial help, because we do not want anyone to be lost, but all to be saved.

I invite you to live this Jubilee year to the fullest. Start strong and this month register to live the 33 days of Consecration to Jesus Christ from your home, virtually; your action in I am the 73rd project will make you Jesus’ 73rd disciple. Contact us at (818) 912 –5842, or write us at info@iam73.net. One of our servants will support you in your registration and experience in your journey to becoming His 73rd disciple.

I pray to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to keep His blessing on you and your entire family, especially during this Jubilee Year decreed by Pope Francis. May the graces poured out during this time reach you. Let us resolve ourselves to live in a state of Grace during this period of Light and Truth.

Your trusted servant,