“Jubilee Year: a Journey of Hope”

PASTORAL LETTER FOR THE SEASON OF ADVENT 2024

“JUBILEE YEAR: A JOURNEY OF HOPE” (Cf. Rom. 15:13)

 

PREAMBLE

 

As we begin this Holy Season of Advent, a season of joyful and spiritual expectation of Christ’s coming, I bring you greetings of peace, love and reconciliation. It is a season which prepares us not only to celebrate the overwhelming gift of love at Christmas, but also offers a valuable opportunity for self-examination of our consciences and to be reconciled with God and one another.

 

We live in challenging times. We cannot continue to pretend that all is well. All is not well. In such depressive circumstances, hope becomes a “sure and steadfast anchor of the soul…” (Hebrews 6:19) to help us manage life’s challenges. In other words, hope protects the mind, protecting it from discouragement and despair.

 

In the midst of the challenges we face today, individually and collectively as a nation, I come to you as your Shepherd to rekindle our hope and our trust that God is faithful: that the Lord will come again to save us and restore our dashed hopes. It is for this reason that I have chosen the theme of this Advent Pastoral Letter: “Jubilee Year: A Journey of Hope.” (Cf. Rom. 15:13), which was inspired by Pope Francis’s theme for the 2025, “Pilgrims of Hope.” In this connection, I pray that this Advent Pastoral Letter will rejuvenate the hope and resilience of our people as we look forward to God with confidence and unflinching faith for a better tomorrow.

 

THE ESSENCE OF THE JUBILEE YEAR

 

The year 2025 has been set aside as the Jubilee Year.  A Jubilee Year is celebrated every twenty-five (25) years and marks a special moment of grace, forgiveness and reconciliation. From the earliest days in the Bible, a Jubilee was a period during which debts were canceled, land was restored to the landless, and the people and earth were allowed a period of rest. It is a celebration of God’s loving kindness towards humanity.

 

Under the theme, “Pilgrims of Hope,” the 2025 Jubilee will officially open on Christmas Eve this year with the opening of the Holy Door by Pope Francis, and followed by the celebration of the Holy Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome. Highlighting the importance of hope, Pope Francis explains, “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and a far- sighted vision. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire; that is why I have chosen as the motto of the Jubilee, Pilgrims of Hope.” In the face of global issues confronting humanity ranging from destruction of family values to climate change and peace, the Holy Father addresses spiritual issues by inviting people to be “pilgrims of hope.” In effect, the Jubilee will then be a year of hope for a world suffering the impacts of war, the ongoing effects of deadly COVID-19 and the climate change crisis.

 

Declaring 2024 as a ”Year of Prayer,” the Holy Father sets into motion the spiritual preparation for the 2025 Jubilee Year with a focus on the prayer that Jesus taught us, Our Father. Prayer is an essential element of a Jubilee Year. Prayer, personal and communal, is vital if we are to discern and understand the Lord’s Will for us as an Archdiocese moving forward.

 

Available for us as a resource aide is Pope Francis Meditation “Teach us to Pray”. Inspired by the Magisterium of Pope Francis, this Booklet is an invitation to intensify prayer as a personal dialogue with God. Your priests have copies of this booklet and will no doubt assist you to use this resource as a wonderful means of grace during this year.

 

Again, in the name of the Holy Father, I passionately invite all Catholics and all men and women of goodwill to join in celebrating this great event with renewed strength and confidence in God’s mercy. It is a special moment of grace to seek to be reconciled with God (cf. 2 Cor. 5:20) and at the same time, to be reconciled with one another. The spirit of the Jubilee invites us to renew our common bonds as brothers and sisters.

 

GOVERNANCE

 

Once again, we give thanks to God for his enduring gift of peace to us as a nation.

By this time last year, we went through a democratic process of choosing our national leaders peacefully, a development which gained global recognition. We reiterate our thanks to all the actors – International Community, National Elections Commission (NEC), Politicians, the Joint Security, Members of the Media, the Youth and all men and women of good will who contributed to this process. It is our prayers that the gains made remain irreversible and inspire all of us to continue to support our democratic process.

 

These achievements notwithstanding, it remains an open secret that there is still a need to nurture and consolidate our democracy much better. This entails, but not limited to the respect of the views of others, respect for the rule of law, seeking redress to our problems through the rightful channels without resorting to the use of arms and violence. Thus, it is imperative on EVERYONE regardless of status or position to work together with respect and forbearance for the common good of all.

 

ADVENT HOPE

 

Sisters and Brothers, this Advent Season is not going to be the same for everyone. Liberia, our beloved nation, is facing a lot of challenges. Of troubling concern is the growing malaise within the social, moral, educational, spiritual, economic, religious and financial fabrics of our society. Honesty, truth, sincerity and a sense of conviction are fast eluding us.

 

There is an urgency to address the rising level of poverty and economic inequality within the country. Sadly, while the affluent enjoy earthly wealth and pleasure with a condescending attitude and arrogance, (like the story of the rich man and Lazarus in the Bible [cf. Luke 16:19 – 31]), many of our people wallow hopelessly in miserable conditions and struggling to make ends meet. Across all sectors of our society are characterized uncertainties and traumas. Indeed, our country Liberia remains a deeply divided nation. So much anger and jealousy; hate and bitterness; revenge and deceit. Let us not delude ourselves that deep-seated hurt, dissatisfaction or unresolved issues will easily be forgotten or swept under the carpet as ‘let bye-gone be bye-gone’. This malaise should serve as a lens through which to view the broader realities of what is happening in our society today. Let us not forget that those who fail to read history are poised to repeat history. Let us remind ourselves that we, as a people and nation, stand in need of healing, reconciliation, forgiveness, hope and peace. Yes, we all need peace and harmony with each other.

 

Amidst these undeniable challenges that continue to confront us in our homes, families, and institutions, I would like to encourage you with the word of our Lord, that is, this Advent Season, Emmanuel is with us; the presence of our Lord is with us. We have hope. We have the peace of Christ with us. As Jesus said, “Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (Cf. John 14: 27).

 

In this Advent Season, let us continue praying for those who are suffering and living in poverty and fear. Let us continue praying for peace-makers and political leaders. Let us hold each other in prayer. With this Christmas, let us continue to share the love, hope and joy of Jesus Christ in our words and deeds. Yes, let us continue singing with the angels “Hark! The herald angels sing; Glory to the new born king. Peace on earth and mercy. God and Sinners reconciled.”

 

CONCLUSION

 

So, as we enter this season of Advent as “Pilgrims of Hope,” despite the challenges we face in our Archdiocese and nation, let us journey towards the 2025 Jubilee Year, trusting in God, the source of our hope to sustain us at all times. United with the prayers of our Blessed Mother Mary, a woman of hope and faith, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

 

+Gabriel Blamo Jubwe

Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel Blamo Jubwe

Metropolitan Archbishop of Monrovia

Issued on First Sunday of Advent, December 01, 2024