Christian celebrations of jubilee years derive from ancient Jewish religious practice. Every seventh year was to be a year of jubilee when debts were to be forgiven, property returned to those who had lost it, and land left fallow. That the practice was extraordinarily idealistic and not capable of being fully carried out does not diminish its value as a reminder that we are fellow pilgrims and guest in God's creation. The invitation to open our doors to the needy reminds us to maintain a balance in our individual, family, and community lives. We open and close doors thousands of times in our lifetimes.
Doors are essential and beneficial.
They provide passageways to where we want to go. They give privacy and protection. They help to keep us safe and secure. Doors are instruments of power. We can shut others out or admit them.