10 Scriptures for the Jubilee Year of Hope
As you may be aware, the Universal Church began a Jubilee Year of Hope on December 25th, 2024. Our Holy Father called it an "event of great spiritual, ecclesial, and social significance in the life of the Church."
"We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire..." - Pope Francis
Jubilee Years are rooted in the Old Testament when God asked that a Jubilee Year be celebrated every 50 years as a time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation. A Jubilee year involved the forgiveness of debts and a time of rest for the fields to experience restoration. In modern times, Jubilees can be celebrated in many different ways but are usually characterized by a pilgrimage of some sort, acts of reconciliation, and prayer. This Jubilee year 2025 is focused on the theological virtue of hope.
“Everyone knows what it is to hope,” the Pope wrote in the introduction to the Jubilee. “In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future will bring.”
Expressing his desire that the Jubilee might be “an opportunity for us to be renewed in hope”, Pope Francis exclaimed, “Let us even now be drawn to this hope!” He calls on Christians to live a life in keeping with their faith, as a witness and an invitation to all to “hope in the Lord.”
Hope may feel elusive after the death of your child. I remember months after John Paul Raphael died when I felt like my life would always be consumed by crushing, devastating pain. But let us remember what the scriptures tell us about grief in 1 Thessalonians 4:13:
May we “not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.”
Since hope is a theological virtue, we must ask the Lord to shower it upon us. We cannot just work harder to have hope. However, we can pray for this virtue even in our sorrow. Here are 10 scripture passages that can help us pray for hope and grow in this important virtue during this year of Jubilee 2025.
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. -Isaiah 40:31
But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. - Micah 7:7
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. - Romans 5:3-4
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. - Jeremiah 29:11
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. - Hebrews 11:1
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. - Romans 8:24-25
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. - 1 Peter 1:3
For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. - Psalm 62:5-6
Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His steadfast love. - Psalm 33:19
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my help and my God. - Psalm 42: 5-6
