God With Flesh On

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."

     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 silverware is mine. A kindly priest gave it 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, and he pressed two silver candlesticks into Jean's hands.

     “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