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ENJOY CELEBRATIONS. Fortunately I have a wonderful
husband and son who enjoy celebrations as much as I do...
well, maybe they don't get quite as excited!! Though this
aspect of my personality has been a happy source of teasing
throughout the years, during times of celebration I
experience Jesus' love in a way that blesses me.
 I
am looking forward to celebrating the Jubilee of the Year
2000. Pope John Paul II in his Apostolic Letter, Tertio
Millennio Adveniente wonderfully describes this upcoming
event. I am encouraged by the hope and joy Pope John Paul
expresses throughout this letter.
To
experience the full blessing of this Jubilee that begins the
Third Millennium, Pope John Paul invites each of us to
surrender our hearts to God and to be enthusiastic in
spreading the Good News. The Third Millennium is anticipated
as a New Springtime in Christianity. Pope John Paul
tells us that Divine Providence has been preparing the
Church for this event for several decades starting with the
Second Vatican Council. This Council "spoke in the language
of the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes."1
Jesus
invites us through the beatitudes to
"love your enemies, do good to those
who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who
treat you badly."2
Embracing this call means accepting Jesus' cross into our
lives. Accepting this suffering can be quite uncomfortable
at the best of times. Yet the witness of love that springs
from this acceptance encourages those around us, revealing
the Father's love to them.
Living
the Beatitudes provides a solid foundation for the final
three years of preparation before the Jubilee. During 1997
we focused on Jesus as the Redeemer of the world with the
theme "Jesus Christ, the one Saviour of the world,
yesterday, today and forever."3
We also asked Jesus to place within us a thirst for holiness
and to enkindle a true love for the poor.
This
year will focus on the Holy Spirit for "the Church cannot
prepare for the new millennium in any other way than in
the Holy Spirit."4 The Holy
Spirit inspires hope within us and gives us courage to live
Jesus' Gospel. We pray asking the Holy Spirit to give us
listening hearts that are attentive to Jesus' voice. The
Holy Spirit will transform our hearts and his grace through
us will be an authentic witness of hope.
The
year 1999 will be dedicated to the Father and his
reconciling love for his people. During this year we will be
encouraged to take a "journey of authentic
conversion."5 A renewed desire
for receiving the sacrament of Penance will tap into a
profound source of grace and reconciliation with God. This
beautiful sacrament brings tremendous healing and will
deepen our love for God and for those around us. During this
year in particular we should seek this sacrament frequently
and pray for the gift of forgiveness in our lives, families
and nations. Nothing can withstand God's love through
forgiveness and this will strengthen us in expressing God's
love to the poor who thirst for God's mercy.
Special
emphasis should be given to Mary during this preparation
period and throughout the next millennium. The gift of
salvation would not have been possible if Mary had not
consented. The Church raises her up to us as a source of
faith and hope in following Jesus. Whenever we experience
difficulties in following Jesus or we are concerned about
someone, we should place ourselves immediately into Mary's
hands. Mary's love as a mother will lead us swiftly to
Jesus. Mary shares the thirst of Jesus to draw us into the
Father's love. Mary's simple instruction,
"Do whatever Christ tells
you"6 points the way to
the Father through her Son.
Christian
unity is another important element of the New Springtime. We
are invited to open our hearts to our Christian brothers and
sisters of different denominations. We should pray and build
together the Kingdom of God for "the Jubilee will be a
promising opportunity for fruitful cooperation in the many
areas which unite us; these are unquestionably more numerous
than those which divide us."7
The peace that will blossom from this unity will be
powerful!
The
Third Millennium will be exciting times for us as
Christians. What great joy too, that we will be much closer
to fufilling our heart's desire -- coming home to our
Father's house.
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