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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.”
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.
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By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 12. Vol.s 1-15, Copyright 2015.
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