Catholicism Is Exploding in 2025 | LITTLE BY LITTLE

Devotional

Day 1: Jubilee: A Year of God’s Extraordinary Grace

The concept of the Jubilee year, rooted in Leviticus 25, is a profound invitation to experience God’s mercy, bounty, and restoration in a special way. In ancient Israel, the Jubilee was a time when debts were forgiven, captives were set free, and the land was allowed to rest—a tangible sign of God’s desire to renew and bless His people. Today, we are invited to enter into this same spirit, recognizing that God can set apart not just places, but entire seasons for an outpouring of grace. As we approach this Jubilee year, let us open our hearts to the possibility that God wants to do something new and transformative in our lives, offering us freedom, healing, and a fresh start. [00:14]

Leviticus 25:10-12 (ESV)
“And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan. That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of itself nor gather the grapes from the undressed vines. For it is a jubilee. It shall be holy to you. You may eat the produce of the field.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you long for God’s restoration or freedom? Ask Him today to begin a new work of grace in that area during this Jubilee year.

Day 2: The Power of Sabbath and Sacred Time

The Sabbath, established by God from the very beginning, is a weekly reminder of His provision and our need for rest and worship. It is not just a rule, but a gift—a day to step back from striving, to remember God’s faithfulness, and to seek His face. When we honor the Sabbath, we open ourselves to receive the unique graces God pours out on these holy days. In the same way, special seasons like the Jubilee year are opportunities to be attentive to God’s presence and to allow Him to sanctify our time, making ordinary days extraordinary through His blessing. [00:42]

Genesis 2:2-3 (ESV)
“And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”

Reflection: How can you intentionally set apart time this week to rest and seek God, trusting that He wants to meet you in those moments?

Day 3: Disposing Yourself to Receive Grace

God’s grace is always available, but our openness and disposition determine how much we receive. Just as certain places and times are especially blessed, our hearts must be attentive and expectant to catch the graces God is pouring out. When we approach God with faith, hope, and a willingness to be changed, we position ourselves to experience deeper consolation, transformation, and joy. This year, make it your aim to posture your soul to receive all that God wants to give, saying, “Lord, I give you permission—hit me with everything, because I need it.” [08:29]

James 4:8 (ESV)
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Reflection: What practical step can you take today to open your heart more fully to God’s grace—perhaps through prayer, confession, or simply inviting Him into your struggles?

Day 4: Hope: Confident Expectation of God’s Goodness

Hope is not wishful thinking, but a confident expectation that God will act with grace and power. In this Jubilee year, we are called to pray and expect more—to believe that God is at work in our lives and in the lives of those we love. Even when we don’t see immediate results, hope keeps us anchored, urging us to keep praying, keep believing, and keep our eyes open for the ways God is moving. Let this year be marked by a bold, joyful hope that God has something special in store for you and for His Church. [08:45]

Romans 15:13 (ESV)
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

Reflection: Who is someone you’ve been praying for or hoping for? Renew your prayers for them today, asking God to surprise you with His grace in their life.

Day 5: Small Steps, Big Transformation

Sometimes the greatest changes begin with the smallest acts of faithfulness. Setting aside just 15 minutes a day for prayer, reading the Gospel, and journaling can open the door to a life-changing encounter with God. Over time, these small steps can grow into a deep, abiding relationship with Him, transforming your heart and your habits. Don’t underestimate what God can do with your simple “yes” each day—He delights to multiply your efforts and lead you into greater intimacy with Him. [03:51]

Matthew 6:6 (ESV)
“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Reflection: What is one small, concrete habit you can begin today to deepen your relationship with God? Commit to it for the next week and see how He meets you there.

Sermon Summary

In 2025, the Church will celebrate a Jubilee Year, a tradition rooted in the Old Testament and revived by Pope Francis as a time of extraordinary grace. The concept of Jubilee comes from Leviticus 25, where every 50th year was marked by the blowing of a ram’s horn, signaling a year of release, restoration, and divine favor. While the original Jubilee was rare—perhaps once in a lifetime—the Church now observes it every 25 years, making it a more frequent opportunity for renewal and conversion.

The Jubilee Year is not just a symbolic gesture or a theme for the calendar; it is a real, tangible season of grace. God, in His generosity, sanctifies not only places but also times. Just as certain holy sites are imbued with special blessings, so too are certain days and years. Sundays, feast days, and solemnities carry a unique spiritual atmosphere, and when we are open and attentive, we can experience a deeper outpouring of God’s presence and consolation.

Personal stories from the year 2000, the last Jubilee, highlight how these special times can be pivotal. Many, including myself and others I know, experienced profound conversions or vocational clarity during that year. What began as a small commitment to daily prayer blossomed into a life-changing relationship with God, marked by increased devotion and a clearer sense of purpose. These graces were not accidental; they were the fruit of a time specially blessed by God through the Church’s authority.

As we approach 2025, it is vital to recognize that this is not just another year. It is a season when God’s grace is especially abundant, waiting for us to receive it. The invitation is to be expectant, to pray with greater faith and hope, and to posture our hearts to receive all that God desires to give. Even if skepticism lingers, there is nothing to lose by asking God to “paint a big target” on our hearts, making us ready for whatever blessings He wants to pour out. Let us enter this Jubilee Year with open hands and confident expectation, trusting that God will do great things.

Key Takeaways

1. God sanctifies not only places but also times, making certain seasons—like the Jubilee Year—uniquely graced. Just as pilgrimages to holy sites can bring about profound spiritual experiences, so too can entering into a holy year with openness and faith. The sanctification of time is a mystery that invites us to be attentive and receptive to God’s movements in our lives. [05:08]
2. The authority given to the Church, especially through the Pope, is not merely symbolic but carries real spiritual weight. When the Church declares a Jubilee, it is an act of binding and loosing on earth that is honored in heaven, opening the floodgates of grace in a way that is both mysterious and effective. This is a call to trust in the spiritual realities that God has established through His Church. [01:46]
3. Personal transformation often begins with small acts of faithfulness, such as committing to daily prayer or seeking God’s will in our vocation. The testimony of how a simple 15-minute prayer routine grew into hours of daily communion with God shows that grace builds upon our willingness to respond, especially in seasons of special blessing. God multiplies our efforts when we step out in faith. [03:51]
4. Openness and expectation are crucial for receiving the graces God wants to give. Spiritual blessings are not forced upon us; they require a posture of receptivity. By consciously giving God permission and asking for His grace, we make ourselves “big targets” for His blessings, especially in a Jubilee Year. This is an invitation to hope with confidence and to pray boldly for ourselves and others. [08:18]
5. The fruits of a Jubilee Year are not limited to personal experiences but can be seen in the wider Church—through increased conversions, renewed vocations, and a surge of spiritual vitality. When we align ourselves with what God is doing in these special times, we become part of a larger movement of grace that can transform communities and even nations. Our participation matters, both for ourselves and for the world. [07:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - What Is a Jubilee Year?
[00:42] - Sabbath and the Roots of Jubilee
[01:09] - Jubilee in the Catholic Tradition
[01:30] - The Year 2000: A Life-Changing Jubilee
[01:46] - The Authority of the Church
[02:17] - Dr. Bergsma’s Insights on Jubilee
[03:10] - Vocational Conversion and Grace
[03:51] - The Power of Small Commitments
[04:37] - 2025: A Year of Extraordinary Grace
[05:08] - Sanctification of Time and Place
[05:52] - Feast Days and Special Graces
[07:09] - Personal Attitude Toward Jubilee
[07:51] - Want To Change? Do This
[08:18] - Openness to Grace
[09:36] - Outro and Blessings

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Leviticus 25:8-12 (ESV) —
> “You shall count seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, so that the time of the seven weeks of years shall give you forty-nine years. Then you shall sound the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout all your land. And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan. That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of itself nor gather the grapes from the undressed vines. For it is a jubilee. It shall be holy to you. You may eat the produce of the field.”

- Matthew 16:19 (ESV)

> “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Observation Questions

According to Leviticus 25, what were the main features of the Jubilee year for the people of Israel?
In the sermon, what examples did the speaker give of times and places being especially blessed or graced? [05:08]
What does Jesus say about the authority given to the Church in Matthew 16:19, and how does the sermon connect this to the Jubilee Year? [01:46]
What small act of faithfulness did the speaker commit to during the Jubilee Year 2000, and what was the result? [03:51]

Interpretation Questions

Why might God choose to sanctify not just places, but also specific times or seasons, like the Jubilee Year? How does this shape our understanding of God’s generosity? [05:08]
The sermon mentions that the Church’s declaration of a Jubilee Year is not just symbolic, but actually opens the “floodgates of grace.” What does this mean in practical terms for believers? [01:46]
The speaker and others experienced major spiritual changes during the last Jubilee. What does this suggest about the relationship between our openness and God’s timing for grace? [03:10]
How does the idea of “making ourselves big targets” for God’s grace challenge or encourage your own approach to prayer and expectation? [08:18]

Application Questions

The speaker described how a simple 15-minute daily prayer commitment grew into hours of prayer and a life-changing relationship with God. Is there a small spiritual practice you could commit to during this Jubilee Year? What would it look like to start, and what might hold you back? [03:51]
The sermon encourages us to be “expectant” and to pray with greater faith and hope. What would it mean for you to approach this year with confident expectation? Are there specific areas in your life where you need to ask God for more? [08:45]
The idea of the Church’s authority to declare a Jubilee Year may be new or even challenging. How do you personally respond to the idea that God honors the Church’s declarations in a real, spiritual way? [01:46]
The speaker admitted to being a bit cynical at first about the Jubilee Year, seeing it as “just a theme.” Have you ever felt skeptical about special seasons or events in the Church? What helped you move past that, or what might help you now? [07:09]
The sermon suggests that openness and receptivity are key to receiving God’s blessings. What practical steps can you take to “open your hands” and “make yourself a big target” for God’s grace this year? [08:18]
The fruits of the Jubilee Year are not just personal, but can impact the wider Church and even society. Is there a way you feel called to participate in this movement of grace for others—through prayer, service, or inviting someone to experience God’s love? [07:37]
Think about a time when you experienced a “season of grace” in your life. What was different about your attitude or actions during that time, and how can you bring that same openness into this Jubilee Year? [05:52]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What is the biblical origin of Jubilee Year practices?

How can specific days or years enhance spiritual growth?

What role does faith play in receiving divine grace?

Catholicism Is Exploding in 2025 | LITTLE BY LITTLE | Fr Columba Jordan CFR