Thursday after Epiphany
In the passage from the Gospel of Luke today, we hear Jesus reading and being handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. One of the quotes that Jesus read said the following: “He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives…and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” The term “dektos" is translated "acceptable," but some translators prefer "year of the Lord's favor." The latter translation refers to the Jubilee year, when debts are to be forgiven, and land returned to its original owners. The proponent of former translation, however, argues that the term dektos is not used in the Septuagint in that context. Nonetheless, although these jubilee mandates are not literally implemented by Jesus, they are prominent in His Sermon on the Plain, where Jesus expresses his attitude toward wealth.
On January 6, 2026, the Jubilee Year of Hope in Rome officially concluded on the Solemnity of the Epiphany. Approximately 33.5 million pilgrims visited Rome during the Jubilee Year to pass through the Holy Doors. While many pilgrims share their experience as a blessing and act of faith, in the era of social media, millions of posts merely highlight the achievement as a unique accomplishment, akin to collecting blessings. Millions of supposed pilgrims are simply showing their religious pride by visiting Rome during the Jubilee. They often forgot Christian teachings that emphasize humility and giving God the glory rather than boasting in one's own religious deeds. Passing through a Holy Door signifies a spiritual journey towards renewal and conversion. But there won't be any renewal and conversion if, after passing through the Holy Door, one immediately goes to Via dei Condotti to find and buy high-end Italian luxury goods. No matter how many holy doors you have passed, one does not really live in the spirit of Jubilee if they cannot even spare a dime for the poor and needy or be charitable to those in need.