Even right before entering into liturgical season of Lent and Easter, we are given the best times to reflect on the theme of the Jubilee year that has started Christmas eve last year. Our parish had been busy last Christmas season that can be the reason why we were not so well-informed, or even if, we were not able to seriously put in our minds and hearts. Just recently, we are seeing for example the logo of the Jubilee year with the theme written as “Pilgrims of Hope. From now and these coming days, let us spend time reading hand-outs about the content of the Jubilee year. We are being encouraged to actively participate to realize the intention of the Holy Year. It is an opportune time that we can include in our Lenten recollection, which is not limited in just a day time for reflection, some things related to the Jubilee year.
We are now reflecting on the Jubilee year to keep it holy and pray for greater concern of respective countries and individuals about systems in our society that causes oppression, in which, climate injustice is with great emphasis. The celebration of the Holy Year coins the word “ecological debt,” talking about the disproportionate use of natural resources in different parts of the world. In here, we can also coin the words “stewardship of creation” (taking care of all creations) which our Church has considered one of our major pastoral concern.
The Pilgrim Church is expressive of Hope for the earth which has been the subject of abuse especially by areas in the world with authorities who consider themselves stronger and powerful than the others. The Jubilee years stands for areas and people who are weakened by the seemingly powerful and abusive authorities. The Jubilee year challenges the powerful as to what extent debts be forgiven and misappropriated land/properties be returned.
Our Church has been working on justice and peace. There may be broader scope when we talk about justice and peace and this goes beyond this Jubilee year. BUT the Pilgrim Church exists strongly for ecology, justice and peace, as always, and will always be.
Let us reflect, share our thoughts, and do something specific about our destructive desire for world(ly) productivity.
Respect for all life is part and parcel of this Holy Year. We are against anything that can possibly destroy life, that even responsible parenthood, having a heart for the poor, for the sick, and for people of many different complicated and difficult situations are our concerns in this period of Jubilee year.