The biblical roots of the Jubilee call us to enter a time of Sabbath or fallowness when we make time to rest and be re-created according to the mind and heart of God. For the Hebrew people of old, this meant not ploughing their fields, remitting debts that had accrued over the past fifty years, setting slaves and those in bondage free, reclaiming ancestral land, restoring relationships and reclaiming their heritage as God's chosen people.

Today, more than ever we need to take time to set one another free, to restore relationships that have been strained or broken, to forgive debts, to heal the earth and to reconnect with our God. In the frenetic pace of life, Jubilee reminds us that there is a need to reclaim time for family, for prayer and for ourselves. These are some of the key themes of this Jubilee year:

Letting the land lie fallow

* by making time for prayer
* by spending less time at work and more time with our family
* by caring for the land and protecting our world

Practising Forgiveness

* by cancelling debts we are owed
* by letting go of long-standing grudges against others
* by actively supporting the Jubilee 2000 debt campaign

Working for Freedom

* by speaking out for those who are unjustly treated
* by reaching out to a lonely person in our area
* by setting a family member free from our expectations

Striving for Justice

* by supporting the cause of reconciliation between people
* by sharing some of our goods with the poor
* by living a just life, treating all people with dignity

Having an attitude of Jubilation

* by affirming others with a kind work or a thoughtful gift
* by sharing the joy of our faith with others
* by celebrating with gratitude for all we have received.

What impact will this year have in our lives? Will the twelve months come and go with very little effect on us? Or will it be a time of great blessing and grace as we enter fully into the Year of the Lord's Favour? The choice is ours!

Mike Humphrys