The “year of favor from the Lord” or “a year acceptable to the Lord,” as referenced in Isaiah 61:2 and Luke 4:19, refers to the biblical concept of the Jubilee year, a time of liberation, forgiveness, and restoration, particularly for those in bondage or debt, as described in Leviticus 25:8-55 and Deuteronomy 15:1-11. God commanded Israel to observe a Jubilee every 50 years. Jesus mentioned this in connection with His mission.

It is difficult to understand the ancient concept of a Jubilee year without first appreciating the significance of land to people who lived long before the industrial age. In an agrarian economy, the land was essential. Most people grow their own produce, raise their own livestock, make their own clothing, and craft their own tools. Without land, a person could not be a farmer. Without land, families could quickly become destitute.

God provided for every family as Israel entered the land God had promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This demonstrates God’s intent to bless everyone with the opportunity for a productive and abundant life. Unfortunately, people make mistakes. That has always been true. When the men and women of ancient Israel fell into hard times, perhaps because of their own mistakes, they often had few options. Many sold their land holdings, and some even sold themselves into indentured servitude.

The Jubilee was the time when God restored land ownership to the original families. It was also a time when poor Israelites who had sold themselves into indentured servitude were to be released so they, too, could return to their families and family properties.

So, what is the spiritual meaning of the Jubilee for us today? The Jubilee year signifies a time of liberation, forgiveness, and restoration, emphasizing God’s mercy and the importance of returning to a state of right relationship with God and one another. It’s a time of spiritual freedom and deliverance from the oppressive debt of sin, offering a chance for restoration and a renewed focus on God’s blessings.

Financial debt, however, can significantly impact spiritual freedom by creating stress, limiting choices, and potentially hindering a person’s ability to serve God and prioritize their spiritual well-being. It says in Proverbs 22:7, “The borrower is the slave of the lender,” so there is a sense of bondage when you are in debt. 

We are in a consumer-based society, and the average American uses debt for things that are not productive, which can lead to bondage. Then the Proverb becomes a reality with all types of ramifications, including spiritual ones. Why is it spiritual? It changes one’s whole attitude. There’s a whole fear factor going on. It is at the forefront of one’s mind.

Finance is an inescapable part of life on earth — and an inescapable part of marriage and family life. From wedding expenses to new homes to children’s education to retirement funds, finances are always involved in the life of a family. In fact, finances are one of the greatest points of contention in marriages. According to Money Magazine, over 70% of married couples fight about money more than anything else.

In their proper place, finances are really a relatively small part of who we are. Our relationships with the Lord, our families, and our communities are much more important. But when the finances are not sound, they overwhelm the rest of those relationships, hence the bondage. So, the focus isn’t on relationships. The focus is: “I have to work a second job. I can’t afford to do things for the kids. I can’t afford to send my kids to Catholic school because of this. I can’t afford to give more to the Church.”

Within a Catholic framework, financial freedom isn’t solely about accumulating wealth but about managing resources responsibly and justly, aligning with the call to stewardship and generosity, and freeing oneself from the bondage of debt to better serve God and others.

In this year of Jubilee for the parish and the Church, we are launching a co-joined dynamic between San Rafael Parish and the Society for Financial Awareness (SOFA), a 501c3 non-profit, altruistic “Gold Standard” in providing Financial Literacy and setting up Financial Wellness Programs all across America.

We kick off with Financial Freedom Day on Saturday, April 26, since it’s Financial Literacy Month nationwide. The event is free — no sale of goods or services — purely educational and altruistic. SOFA will bring in speakers who are trained public educators whose vocation is on the various financial topics being presented. Our symposium will run from 9 am – 4 pm with time for lunch. We’d love to have you join us. It’s open to anyone, so feel free to invite family and friends.

The Jubilee year is a time of returning to a state of wholeness and freedom, both spiritually and materially. Whether you are engaged and looking ahead at combining finances with your future spouse, newly married and beginning to tackle debt, wanting to improve a family budget, a widow/widower, or simply looking to build a solid financial foundation, this event is for you.

Fr. Jay

Pastor of San Rafael Parish