Jubilee 2000 and 2020 Vision

 

If anyone of your kin falls into difficulty and sells a piece of property, then the next of kin shall come and redeem what the relative has sold. 

 If the person has no one to redeem it, but then prospers and finds sufficient means to do so, the years since its sale shall be computed and the difference shall be refunded to the person to whom it was sold, and the property shall be returned. 

 But if there are not sufficient means to recover it, what was sold shall remain with the purchaser until the year of jubilee; 

in the jubilee it shall be released, and the property shall be returned.

                                              Leviticus 25:25-28

 In the late 1990's the United Church of Canada encouraged congregations to participate in a multi-national  and interfaith initiative to forgive the crippling debt of developing and Global South countries. It was in anticipation of the turn of the millennium and the focus was Jubilee 2000. 

This is a reference to the biblical notion of jubilee, the forgiveness of debt every 50 years. Some would argue that there isn't a whole lot that's worthwhile in the Hebrew Scripture book called Leviticus but this is where we first find the extensive instructions for a Jubilee year in chapter 25. 

Jesus is probably drawing on this vision of relinquishing debt when he speaks in the synagogue in chapter 4 of Luke's gospel. It is also a specific petition of what we call The Lord's Prayer: "forgive us our debts, as we have also forgiven our debtors" -- even though we say "trespasses"in our United Church tradition. 

Back in the 90's the high profile spokesperson for Jubilee 2000 was Bono, of the rock band U2. They were huge at the time, and Bono jetted about for the cause as both a music star and a Christian. 

I notice that a group of more than 140 Christian leaders from around the world have signed a letter urging the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to cancel debts for developing nations struggling in the pandemic. In a few days a meeting involving these organizations will take place to consider debt relief as part of a global economic recovery.  The letter exhorts them to demonstrate "courageous leadership" on behalf of the poor.

I hope these leaders are heard and heeded. In the midst of our struggles with COVID-19 we need to be mindful of those whose situations are even more desperate. We truly need a 2020 Jubilee vision.