Through the Holy Doors (Part 1) – A Jubilee Year “Slam” for ACODs
Centro Televisivo Vaticano, CC BY 3.0 <, via Wikimedia Commons
To celebrate a “big” birthday this year, I went on a pilgrimage to Italy. When I booked it, I did not realize I would be going in a Jubilee Year and that I would walk through the Holy Doors. Once in Italy, a fellow pilgrim asked our Spiritual Director what we should do to prepare to step through the Holy Doors.
Excellent question! I had done what you would usually do to prepare for a nice trip: check my passport, pack light, get a fanny pack to guard against pickpockets, and so on. A pilgrimage, however, “is more than just a nice trip,” our Spiritual Director had said; “it changes you.” So, until my friend had asked that question, I had not thought of how to prepare to receive the graces awaiting me—and ready to change me—by choosing to step through the Holy Doors.
What is the Jubilee Year?
Based on Leviticus 25:8-55, the Lord said to Moses on Mount Sinai, the Jubilee Year is one that comes on the fiftieth year: “[y]ou shall treat [it] as sacred.” The Jubilee Year as sacred is so important, the Lord says this twice! (Cf. Lev. 25:10 and 25:12).
In the prior verses, the Lord also tells Moses to keep a Sabbatical Year: “the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath of complete rest.” (Lev. 25:4). Complete rest is also so important, the Lord also commands this twice! (Lev. 25:4 and 25:5). The Jubilee Year then, is the culmination of “seven weeks of years—seven times seven years—such that the seven weeks of years amount to forty-nine years;” and, “You shall treat this fiftieth year as sacred”—the Jubilee.
In this year, “you shall proclaim liberty in the land for all its inhabitants” (Lev. 25:10) and “each of you shall return to your own property.” (Lev. 25:13). Basically, He is commanding the Israelites to free any slaves, return any land, and forgive any debts. He then goes on to say:
Do not deal unfairly with one another, then; but stand in fear of your God. I, the Lord am your God. Observe my statutes and be careful to keep my ordinances, so that you will dwell securely in the land. The land will yield its fruit and you will eat your fill and live there securely. And if you say, “What shall we eat in the seventh year, if we do not sow or reap our crop?” I will command such a blessing for you in the sixth year that there will be crop enough for three years. (Leviticus 25:17-21)
The Meaning of the Holy Doors
In one of my prior articles, our LGW Editor gave excellent references about the meaning of doors in the Church. That reference says,
“§ 97 § The doors to the church have both practical and symbolic significance. They function as the secure, steady symbol of Christ, “the Good Shepherd and “the door through which those who follow him enter and are safe [as they] go in and go out.”(Book of Blessings 1229) In construction, design, and decoration, they have the ability to remind people of Christ’s presence as the Way that leads to the Father. (Book of Blessings 1216) Practically, of course, they secure the building from the weather and exterior dangers, expressing by their solid strength the safe harbor that lies within. The appearance and height of the church doors reflect their dignity and address practical considerations such as the accommodation of the processional cross or banners.” (Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture, and Worship : Guidelines of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2000). United States Catholic Conference.)
There is a lot there! For me personally, on my pilgrimage, the holy doors simply meant coming to Jesus Christ as the way, the truth and the life. “No one goes to the Father except through me [the doors].” John 14:6. “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” (Luke 13:24 cf Matthew 7:13-14) If we want to pass through, we must drop everything to follow Him.
Much like the rich young man who Jesus invited to follow Him, “he went away sad, for he had many possessions.” (Mark 10:22; Mark 10:17-31) We do not know what happened to that rich young man. Maybe he feared what would happen if he dropped his possessions that he thought gave him security. So, he held on to them…and went away sad. Maybe he dropped his baggage after all and was free to become His disciple. We do not know. What we do know is that Jesus looked on him with love, regardless of the young man’s choice and whether the young man ultimately stepped through the doors to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Three Questions to Ponder
On my pilgrimage, our spiritual director gave us three questions to ponder to prepare to step through the Holy Doors:
Where have I been ripped off?
Where have I been enslaved and do I want to be free?
Where do I want to experience more joy from knowing Jesus Christ?
Invitation to a “Slam”
I invite you to ponder these questions and take a Jubilee pilgrimage of the heart, even if you cannot go to Rome. If pondering these questions is fruitful for you, the LGW Blog Editor invites you to share your thoughts with us, or comment on this article, as you feel called to do so. Think of this invitation, like a “novelists’ slam”–where writers are given the first line of a novel, and then come up with wildly different and a unique Chapter 1, all based on the same first line.
Asking Him for help to answer these questions may help you heal, as they did for me. In sharing, you will almost certainly help others heal, too.
In a follow-up article, I will do a “reveal” on how these questions helped me forgive, let go of pain, and move forward toward joy. I will not do so at this point, however, because these questions can apply in so many ways to so many different experiences. I do not want to spoil your own “reveal” He has in store for you as you step through the Holy Doors yourself.
Invite Christ to step through these doors with you. It will take courage…and trust…and love. But He will be with you and on the other side as well.
Prayer:
From Liturgy of the Hours IV, pp. 195 and 1013
Responsory (Job 1:21; 2:10b)
Incline my heart according to your will, O God
Speed my steps along your path, according to your will, O God
Responsory (Proverbs 23:26; 1:9; 5:1; 4:20)
My son, surrender your heart to me
and keep your eyes on my footsteps.
Then I will place a crown of grace on your head.
My son, open your heart to my wisdom;
listen to what I say.
Then I will place a crown of grace on your head.
Prayer
Almighty God,
every good thing comes from you.
Fill our hearts with love for you,
Increase our faith,
and by your constant care
protect the good you have given us.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
About the author:
Eudora Jayne is a pseudonym and means “good gift” and “God is gracious.”
Reflection Questions for Small Groups or Individuals:
Take some time to review the questions in the section “Three Questions to Ponder.”
If Eudora’s article resonated with you, and you would like to dig deeper into your healing journey, we invite you to journal your own response to Eudora’s “novelists’ slam” proposal and consider sharing your response with us as a blog article. If you feel called to do so, please reach out to us here.
Also, consider reading Chapter 4, “Life Giving Faith,” of Dr. Dan and Bethany’s book Life-Giving Wounds: A Catholic Guide to Healing for Adult Children of Divorce or Separation (Ignatius Press, 2023) and journaling your way through the healing process as you read it. Of special note in this chapter is the section titled “Finding a Home in the Church, the ‘Family of Families.’”