the year of our lives
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me; therefore, He has anointed Me. He has sent Me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind and release to prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord." —Luke 4:18-19
Over twenty years ago, Pope John Paul II prophesied that this year would be the Great Jubilee, a year of miraculous justice and freedom internationally. This year can be one of the greatest fulfillments of Jesus' proclamation of Isaiah's prophecy of "a year of favor" (Lk 4:19; Is 61:1ff). If Jesus has His way, this year the poor of the world will hear as never before the good news of "liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind and release to prisoners" (Lk 4:18).
Do you believe that the Lord has been speaking through Pope John Paul II? Do you believe that this is the year of multiplied miracles? Do you believe that you were created and your life orchestrated in detail so that you can be your part in Christ's body this year?
"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies" (1 Thes 5:19, our transl). Pope John Paul II has declared: "One thing is certain: everyone is asked to do as much as possible to ensure that the great challenge of the Year 2000 is not overlooked" (Toward the Third Millennium, 55). Let each of us "do all that we can" to let the Holy Spirit renew the face of the earth this year (Ps 104:30). Do you believe? "Everyone begotten of God conquers the world, and the power that has conquered the world is this faith of ours" (1 Jn 5:4). Believe in the Lord of the Great Jubilee. Alleluia!
Prayer: Abba, may this day on which many nations celebrate Epiphany be the occasion for a special outpouring of Jubilee graces.
Promise: "We, for our part, love because He first loved us." —1 Jn 4:19
Praise: Blessed André's devotion to St. Joseph, the foster-father of Jesus, permeated all the works the Lord allowed him to perform.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, July 21, 1999
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 29, 1999