In February, the Jubilee spotlight is on Service and Beauty

We owe a debt of gratitude to those who provide safety and security for our nation and our homes. Their presence reminds me of Christ, who was willing to lay down His life for us, so that we may have life to the full (see Jn 10:10).

During the month of February, the Church celebrates three particular Jubilee celebrations: of the Armed Forces, Police, and Security Personnel (Feb. 8-9); of Artists (Feb. 16-18), and of Deacons (Feb. 21-23). Each of these merits a brief description, since our lives as Catholics are marked by their presence and work in our lives.

Public safety
We owe a debt of gratitude to those who provide safety and security for our nation and our homes. Their presence reminds me of Christ, who was willing to lay down His life for us, so that we may have life to the full (see Jn 10:10). Their weapons ensure peace, not by eliminating our enemies, but by indicating that our lives are precious and worth defending. By their service, they offer hope that the victory of Christ in the Resurrection can be extended to the entire world, renewed by His gift of peace and harmony between nations. 

But we also are called to be a presence of hope in words and deeds for them, some of whom have been injured, as well as for their families, who have lost loved ones in such service. We have firm hope that the sacrifice of their lives is not in vain but incorporated into the death and resurrection of Christ our Lord.

Art and Hope
Artists, by portraying beauty in a sensible manner, open our hearts to the hope of creation restored to God’s original design. As St. John Paul II said to artists: “Artists of every age, captivated by the hidden power of sounds and words, colors and shapes, you have admired the work of your inspiration, sensing in it some echo of the mystery of creation with which God, the sole creator of all things, has wished in some way to associate you” (Letter to Artists, no. 1). 

We can easily become immersed in the ugliness of the news that each day recounts wars, tragedies, and catastrophes. Our Catholic faith is supported by art, which adorns our churches, and which accompanies our liturgies through music. For every encounter with authentic beauty opens our hearts to an encounter with the Risen Lord, who is resplendent with glory. 

We need glimpses of that resurrection that lies before us, so that we can embrace the darkness of Calvary and not give into despair. While we are not all artists, St. John Paul II reminds us that we are all called to make of our lives a masterpiece of beauty: “Scripture reminds us that “all men and women are entrusted with the task of crafting their own life: in a certain sense, they are to make of it a work of art, a masterpiece” (Letter to Artists, no. 2).

Ministerial Service
Deacons, ordained with the Sacrament of Holy Orders, reveal the beauty of Christ who is Servant. In our world, where money predominates as the controlling factor, the presence of deacons reminds us that love expressed in self-giving service is the foundation stone of the Kingdom of God. Our hope is that the world can be remade, not by the powerful, but by servants willing to imitate Christ. For Christ Himself — far from using grand strategies — relied upon disciples who were willing to be hidden, humble, and honest like Him, and so transform the world into His Kingdom by each act of service. 

In a world where such service may not find gratitude, we are called to thank deacons for their service and sustain them in the hope of their reward for serving Christ’s sheep. 

The division of the one, universal Jubilee into particular jubilees helps remind us that hope is not an abstract concept nor only an infused gift of the Holy Spirit. Christian hope is poured into our hearts by Him, but it is sustained by our brothers and sisters who serve us and keep alive that flame of hope. 

Let us pray for those involved in these jubilees, that as they offer us hope, they themselves may deepen their hope in the risen Lord!