As I enter the Jubilee Year, I have much to pray for and much to be thankful for. My wife Sandy and I participated in our first Bible study in 2024. It was focused on the Science of Sainthood materials by Matthew Leonard. It was a spiritually enriching experience that helped us thirst for and seek out more learning opportunities. I even downloaded the Hallow and Ascension apps to help with prayer, and completed Fr Mike Schmitz’s “Face to Face” program for Advent study.
Sandy and I are truly learning to use technology for spiritual growth, although I must admit that she is years ahead of me, having followed the evangelical preacher Joyce Meyer online for years.
The Advent and Christmas seasons have ended, and we were blessed to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as we await his second coming. We owe everything to God and, in our humility we all should give thanks and pray big prayers for this special year.
Let us ask God for:
- People to take the time to learn what a year of jubilee means and the spirit in which we should embrace it.
- Peace on earth. An end to wars and fighting. A time for healing, rebuilding and living in harmony everywhere.
- World political, business and religious leaders to engage in serious dialogue to protect all species of life on the planet as well as the planet itself. We must find ways to invest in poorer nations to ensure that everyone has the basics of clean water, shelter, access to education, food, and sustainable economic opportunities.
- Religious freedom without fear of persecution, in all countries.
- Marital freedom laws that ban kidnapping, forced marriages, and child marriages.
- Food security for all people.
- Sustainable development, especially for countries in need of infrastructure, education, and healthcare improvements.
- A restructuring of global debt where poorer countries are assisted.
- The elimination of political infighting, corruption, and cronyism that robs nations of resources and the ability to invest in people, to grow, and to prosper.
- A strengthening of the moral fiber of society and a shift towards uplifting television, music, and movies, so that the current and future generations will get closer to God.
- A spirit of introspective thought and prayer.
- Endurance for all who are discerning a calling to a religious vocation—especially for children, as they will lead the Church well into the future.
Let us pray that our thoughts, words, and deeds bring us closer to God as we live our lives in cooperation with his plan. Let us use this Year of Jubilee as a resetting of worldly affairs by forgiving debts, strengthening the moral fiber of society, and placing life above everything else.
Let us live selflessly during this year to help others. We should put aside what alienates us and work together for the common good. Imagine what could be done in one year if everyone volunteered one hour a month.
As my wife and I embark on our next trip to Uganda, we look forward to visiting the village of Rubuguri, where we hope to bring God's love, his grace and his favor to a community in need. We pray that God continues to use us to fulfill his plans, whatever they may be. We pray for patience when we encounter obstacles, support when we face opposition, and smiles on the faces of the children and families that we embrace.
We pray that God touches your heart today to always serve him by sharing your blessings with others. May your faith increase during this Jubilee Year.
God is good and he is at work in all of us. As St. Matthew reminds us in his gospel, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." Keep your heart open to God's calling in your life. You never know where he will send you.
Ronald E. Smith, Ed.D is a lifelong Catholic who enjoys writing. He is a Rotarian, member of the Thea Bowman Council #406 of the Knights of Peter Claver, and a parishioner at St. Edward the Confessor Church in Dana Point, California, and St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Rubuguri, Uganda. He and his wife Sandy recently founded Friends of St. Kizito Rubuguri Primary School in Rubuguri, Uganda, where they serve as missionaries. He can be reached at resmithinc@aol.com.
