The Sabbath is so much more than a ritual, a time of prayer and a day of rest observed by Jews from Friday evening till Saturday night.

Built into creation is the need for rest and regeneration. We spend one third of our lives asleep, we take holidays to refresh ourselves, farmers know that land needs to lie fallow lest it become exhausted, and we make time for prayer and meditation to reflect, reorient and renew our purpose.

The Jewish Jubilee year celebrated every 50 years was a super Sabbath where the Jews sought to reset things that had fallen out of God’s order back into order. Debts were forgiven, land lay fallow, slaves given their freedom, relationships restored and connection with God restored and celebrated. This practice recognised the need for a periodic regeneration so that harmony, justice and peace would prevail.

Even today, even though we see the need for regeneration in our lives, our relationships, our societal values, our environment and our political structures, we often ignore these imbalances, creating even greater disharmony and injustice that compounds bringing misery to millions of those crushed by poverty, violence and war. How exciting to see Cuba release many prisoners in response to Pope Francis’ call for Jubilee freedom.

The sabbath and the Jubilee year were made for us, giving us an opportunity to regain God’s vision and plan for creation. Rather than being an obligation, entering a jubilee sabbath is a special time of grace, healing and refreshment.

May we embrace the Jubilee year as pilgrims of hope using our energies and influence to restore health, peace, abundance, generosity and gratitude for a God who heals and renews us.

by Mike Humphrys