Seventeenth Saturday of Ordinary Time

This fiftieth year you shall make sacred by proclaiming liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when every one of you shall return to his own property, every one to his own family estate. In this fiftieth year, your year of jubilee, you shall not sow, nor shall you reap the aftergrowth or pick the grapes from the untrimmed vines. Since this is the jubilee, which shall be sacred for you, you may not eat of its produce, except as taken directly from the field.

The Jubilee year is something we can learn a lot from. In this year slaved were set free, property returned, and the soil rested. First, the captives are freed. This reminds us of how each of us have been freed from the bondage of sin and death through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Second, property is returned. This reminds us God is the true owner of all our goods from our gifts and talents to our possessions and property. Even our lives are given to us on borrowed time and one day all we have and are will return to God. Lastly, the fields are rested and allowed to be picked by all Israelites. This reminds us sometimes we need to trust in God and let Him bring forth good fruits from us spontaneously. It also reminds us to share those good fruits with others, without counting the cost.

What can we do to free ourselves from our sins? How can we make a return of everything we have to God, the source, center, and summit of all our goods? Do we trust God will provide for us if we let Him and share the harvest He provides us with others?

O Lord, make us into living jubilees, celebrating your mercy, generosity, and charity to all your children.

Amen.