I love the book. I adore the movie. Les
Miserables! Victor Hugo produced nothing short of a masterpiece.
The convict needed a place to stay that
night. He was newly escaped, and wasn’t interested in falling into the hands of
the police. He mused about the feasibility of knocking on the Priest’s door.
This priest was well-known for his kindliness, and good works among the poor.
Well, what did he have to lose anyway? He
encouraged himself and knocked three times on the door. Almost immediately the
servant woman peeked out of the barely open portal. The door slammed as quickly
as it opened, and seconds turned into what seemed like minutes.
Just as Jean Val Jean turned to go, the
door swung open wide, and a wisened old priest stood in the threshold.
“Yes, may I help you, Sir?”
Jean automatically looked behind him. He
couldn’t remember when anyone had called him, “Sir.”
“Uh, yes, Father… I need a place to stay
tonight.”
Almost embarrassed for asking, Val Jean
continued to stand there. The priest didn’t hesitate, but invited the felon to
share his home for the night. Meanwhile, the servant woman began to hide the
silverware and candlesticks. No pitiful creature like this was going to take
advantage of her unsuspecting master.
Afterwards, they all lay down for the
night, and the house grew silent. A few crickets chirped in the distance, and
muted voices talked somewhere down the block. Had Val Jean been outside, even
he would have appreciated the magnificence of the night sky.
But he was inside, and he was up to no
good. He crept out of his bed, and past the sleeping priest. He was intent on
doing the old man harm, not out of spite, but out of what he considered
necessity.
Morning broke
early, and the sun rose as it had for eons, and would for time immemorial. The
priest had been busy with prayers and scripture for an hour by now, and had
only just noticed that Jean Val Jean was missing. Suddenly the old servant
virtually sprinted up to him. “Oh, father, that man you took in has taken the
silverware and the candlesticks!”
Odd, hardly any concern registered on the
face of the aged priest. It took a lot to surprise him anymore. He knew men and
he knew their temptations and weaknesses. But the old woman would have none of
it. Hot tears of fear and anxiety swept down her face.
A knock at the door! She hesitated, but
the kindly priest threw it open wide. Outside stood two policemen and… Jean Val
Jean! The policemen spouted their usual greetings and then got down to
business. They presented the convict to the priest and recounted what he had
told them.
“Yes, these candlesticks and dinnerware are mine. A kindly priest gave
them to me.”
Of course, they couldn’t believe such a
story. Impossible.
The old priest smiled a sad smile, and
assured the policemen that all was well, and that he had indeed, given the
silver treasure to Val Jean. After much urging they left with a final word, and
the priest turned to the lying convict. Val Jean could not speak. He was too
full of emotion, and tears flowed copiously down his cheeks.
“My Father, forgive me. Forgive me. I am
an unworthy man and black with sin.”
Father Pierre smiled that same old sad
smile, but there was a fresh twinkle in his eyes.
“This day has Christ enlightened you. I
have bought your soul with the
price
of this silver, Val Jean. You are no longer your own, you are
bought
with a price.”
What else is there to say? Such
overwhelming forgiveness. Some people only know God in us and through us. They
need to see “God with flesh on.” What a wonderful role model we have in that
old priest.
Salvation had visited Val Jean in the
guise of a loving servant of God.
by William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "Unconventional Devotions" Copyright 2005.
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