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Thursday, January 13, 2000
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The Southern Cross, Page 9
CNS photo of cross at grave of murdered Jesuit priest in Dili, East Timor, from Reuters
Golden threads of the jubilee year
By Father Robert L. Kinast
Catholic News Service
H ow should Christians cel
ebrate the year 2000 commemorating
the birth of Jesus Christ? Pope John
Paul II suggested a number of ways,
both in an apostolic letter, As the
Third Millennium Draws Near and in
his more recent decree, The Mystery
of the Incarnation.
Christianity’s 2,000-year history
inevitably directs our attention to the
past and to the positive achievements
of Christ’s followers. But the pope also
wants us to remember this year “the
wrongs done by those who have borne
or bear the name of Christian” (No.
11, The Mystery of the Incarnation).
Why does the pope suggest that we
recall events such as persecutions of
the Jews, for example, and times that
witnessed “intolerance and even the
use of violence in the service of truth”?
For two reasons. First, he has pro
claimed the Jubilee Year 2000 as a
time of conversion, an opportunity to
purify painful, historical memories by
examining our collective conscience
and asking forgiveness for past and
present sins.
Some may say that they are not
personally responsible for their fore
bears’ actions. But the pope reminds
us that as followers of Jesus we are all
united to one another in the mystical
body of Christ and “bear the burden of
the errors and faults of those who
have gone before us” (No. 11).
Obviously we cannot go back and
years of separation from the
Eastern churches and more
than 500 years of division
within the Western church.
Compared to these long
standing conflicts, the modern
ecumenical movement has just
begun. No one should expect in
stant success, but neither
should we grow weary of the
effort.
The pope emphasizes the “dis
tinctive ecumenical character”
of the Jubilee Year. This may
motivate a new dedication by
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saints and martyrs. Their witness to
faith speaks louder than anything
that divides us (No. 37).
The witness of martyrs consists not
only in the inspiration they offer to
other Christians but in the lesson
they teach about responding to
threats and conflicts.
Instead of trying to overpower hos
tile forces with greater force, martyrs
undermine them
i*
artyrs do not belong only to the past,
they are also a contemporary phenomenon
among all Christian denominations."
8*
■
make up for errors or excesses of the
past. But that leads me to the second
reason the pope urges this “purifica
tion of memories.”
We can and should recommit our
selves to healing divisions among
Christians and with other religions.
This includes 2,000 years of animosity
toward the Jews, more than 1,500
years of hostility with Islam, 1,000
Catholics to work for unity with
members of Christian denomi
nations and other religions.
Another side of Christian
history that the pope wants to
highlight is the memory of the
martyrs.
Although a martyr is anyone
who bears witness to the faith, the
most complete and dramatic witness
is by sacrificing one’s life rather than
compromising one’s belief. Martyrs do
not belong only to the past, they are
also a contemporary phenomenon
among all Christian denominations.
The pope suggested in his apostolic
letter that perhaps ecumenism’s most
convincing form is the unity of the
Applying jubilee themes to your own life
By Father Lawrence E. Mick
Catholic News Service
he jubilee, the jubilee, what
does it have to do with me?”
If that little rhyme expresses your
feelings, I understand. Much atten
tion has been given to the changing of
the millennium, but not so much to
the idea of a jubilee year.
It’s been 50 years since the last
jubilee, and even those of us who were
alive then may not remember much
about it.
The jubilee year is an ancient tradi
tion dating back to Israel’s early his
tory. But that ancient era seems far
removed from our contemporary situ
ation, so we might wonder what rel
evance the jubilee observance has to
day.
I have been surprised, on the other
hand, at recent news items suggest
ing that the ancient jubilee themes
are having an impact in areas far
beyond church committees.
There has been much talk in inter
national diplomatic and monetary
circles, for example, about forgiving
the debts of poor nations, a major jubi
lee theme.
Still, such weighty decisions can
seem far removed from everyday life.
The challenge is to apply the jubilee
themes to our daily life.
For example, what debts might we
forgive?
—Have we loaned money to some
one who is really unable to repay?
In 0 Nutshell
A detailed plan for this jubilee year was developed by Pope
John Paul II. The jubilee is “charged with Christological
significance"; it is “intensely eucharistic”; it is a year of
mercy, he said.
Among many elements, the jubilee calls for an examination
of conscience. This addresses whether church social doctrine
is known and practiced. Again, it recognizes “the wrongs
done by those who have borne or bear the name of Christian. 99
The jubilee is a time to celebrate “the mystery of Christ the
Savior 99 and a time to recall “the memory of the martyrs."
—Are there nonmonetary debts we
hold? Has someone offended us so that
we feel we are owed an apology? Have
we helped a family member in a sig
nificant way so that he or she feels
indebted?
Another jubilee theme has to do
with letting the land lie fallow. This
could be applied to our personal lives
in at least two ways:
—By increasing our efforts to care
for the land and the environment as
the Earth’s stewards.
This might require changing some
things in our daily lives to make sure
we are part of the solution to environ
mental degradation, not part of the
problem.
—By giving ourselves permission
to “lie fallow” a bit this year.
The land was left unplanted in an
cient jubilee years so that it could rest
and recover. Many of us need to slow
down a bit and give ourselves time to
rest and recover.
What could you change that might
give you a bit more time to rest in
God’s presence this year?
Of course, a jubilee is not meant
just to be observed but to be cel
ebrated. This is a year to give
thanks and to rejoice in Christ’s
presence.
What would help you to become
more aware of Christ’s presence in
your life?
(Father Mick is a priest of the
Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio, and
a free-lance writer.)
by remaining
faithful to the
truth revealed
through the cross
of Jesus.
What enables
martyrs to make
this supreme sacrifice is what enables
all faithful Christians to meet and
fulfill their duties in life: communion
with the living Lord.
For the pope the whole jubilee year
is like an invitation to the eucharistic
feast (Mystery of the Incarnation, No.
4). The Eucharist is the source and
summit of the church’s life, and the
best reminder of how Christians
should celebrate the year 2000.
(Father Kinast is the director of
the Center for Theological Reflection,
Indian Rocks beach, Fla.)
FAITH IN THE MARKETPLACE
What can you do to make
this a “year of mercy?”
“It’s a matter of entering into
the new millennium with a
spirit of forgiveness. I am
supportive of the Holy Father’s
‘forgive the debt’ campaign.
He’s setting the example, and I
will try to follow it at the family
and neighborhood level.” —
Randall Krum, Bennington, Vt.
“I don’t see how the kingdom
of God can come without us
being kind. Also, in my youth
work, I don’t see our youth
treated with respect, so the other
piece of the puzzle is to be an
example of respect for others
regardless of their age.” — Faith
Reilly, Oklahoma City, Okla.
“We live in a rural region
with areas of widespread
socio-economic distress.... Our
greatest problem is not alcohol
ism, addiction or unemploy
ment and the like. It is indiffer
ence. We must get beyond
tolerance to intimacy with our
marginalized neighbors. Mercy
is the call to respond to the
needs of others ... just as Christ
himself did.” — James Kinyon,
Rapid City, S.D.
An upcoming edition asks: Tell of
your introduction to a form of
spirituality that influenced your life?
If you would like to respond for
possible publication, please write:
Faith Alive! 3211
Fourth St. N.E.,
Washington, D.C.
20017-1100.
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