Journey to Wholeness
This Jubilee series began with wonder about the inscription on the Liberty Bell at the Pennsylvania State House from Leviticus 25:10: “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof.”
Biblical freedom has as its final aim liberation from slavery to sin and communion with God, and thus ultimately transcends this world and its political systems.… Read the rest
… Read the restYou shall count seven weeks of years—seven times seven years—such that the seven weeks of years amount to forty-nine years. Then, on the tenth day of the seventh month let the ram’s horn resound; on this, the Day of Atonement, the ram’s horn blast shall resound throughout your land.
Then the Lord said to Moses: Go to Pharaoh and tell him: Thus says the Lord: Let my people go to serve me.
Exodus 7:26 (NABRE; 8:1 in other translations)
… Read the restFor the Israelites belong to me as servants; they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, I, the Lord, your God.
True freedom is not autonomy, but fidelity to the Lord. The Anointed One who came to “proclaim liberty to captives” in Jubilee fashion (Luke 4:18) took the form of a slave and became obedient to death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:7-8). … Read the rest
The laws of the Sabbath day, Sabbatical year, and Jubilee year give shape to our total existence as humans interdependent with the land, animals, and plants. Setting aside one day out of seven, one year out of seven, and one year out of seven times seven years to rest from labor, allowing even the land to rest, declares the sovereignty of God and the primacy of worship.… Read the rest