The Jubilee 2025 starts with the opening of the Holy Door in the basilica of St. Peter.

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Spirit of the Lord is upon you.
The child you shall bear will be holy.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

2 Samuel 7,1-5.8-12.14.16

Once the king had settled into his palace and Yahweh had granted him rest from all the enemies surrounding him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, 'Look, I am living in a cedar-wood palace, while the ark of God is under awnings.' Nathan said to the king, 'Go and do whatever you have in mind, for Yahweh is with you.' But that very night, the word of Yahweh came to Nathan: 'Go and tell my servant David, "Yahweh says this: Are you to build me a temple for me to live in? This is what you must say to my servant David, "Yahweh Sabaoth says this: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader of my people Israel; I have been with you wherever you went; I have got rid of all your enemies for you. I am going to make your fame as great as the fame of the greatest on earth. I am going to provide a place for my people Israel; I shall plant them there, and there they will live and never be disturbed again; nor will they be oppressed by the wicked any more, as they were in former times ever since the time when I instituted judges to govern my people Israel; and I shall grant you rest from all your enemies. Yahweh furthermore tells you that he will make you a dynasty. And when your days are over and you fall asleep with your ancestors, I shall appoint your heir, your own son to succeed you (and I shall make his sovereignty secure. I shall be a father to him and he a son to me; if he does wrong, I shall punish him with a rod such as men use, with blows such as mankind gives. Your dynasty and your sovereignty will ever stand firm before me and your throne be for ever secure." '

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Look down, O Lord, on your servants.
Be it unto us according to your word.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

In this passage from the book of Samuel we reach a decisive point in salvation history, the promise of offspring and a kingdom that the Lord made to David. The story begins when David compares his dwelling and the ark's, the sign of God's presence, which is still kept in a tent. David decides to build a temple for the Lord. The absence of the temple was considered a clear sign of the religious inferiority of Israel compared to the neighbouring peoples. When David first tells Nathan of his plans, the prophet is enthusiastic. But God rejects the plan that very night. The Lord warns David that he had never asked for a temple in the past, nor does He want one now from him. God has always led his people even without having a fixed dwelling place. The Lord does not need walls. If anything, it is Israel who needs them in order not to forget the Lord. Therefore, it is God himself who will build a home for Israel. The prophet announces a "royal house" that will last "forever;" it will be an "everlasting kingdom." We read this prophecy tonight while, in the vigil of Christmas, in the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome, the first "Holy Door" will be opened and thus this jubilee year will start. Jesus' birth who fulfilled this ancient prophecy of Isaiah opens a door in history and gives back hope and meaning to the lives of men and women. As the angel announces to Mary: "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end" (Lk 1:32-33).