So: to the one who is capable of doing far, far more than
we can ask or imagine, granted the power which is working in us--
to him be the glory, in the church, and in King Jesus, to all
generations, and to the ages of ages! Amen!
-Ephesians 2:20-21
You may be wondering how this passage relates at all to Les Mis. I will return to it shortly.
I remember first being introduced to Les Mis in concert band 11, when Ms. Zee showed us a band arrangement of Les Mis songs for concert band. In the process, she sang a few of those famous lines which have been heard all across the world since Susan Boyle came onto Britain's Got Talent...
I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high and life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
So all those years ago, I began to adore the music from Les Mis...shortly after we watched the movie (not musical version) starring Liam Neeson in our French class, and then I bought the dvd for the 20th anniversary Les Mis production. I think it was in 2009 in London that I watched it on broadway, and had my mind blown. That was my encounter with Les Mis. Then, I watched the new Les Mis movie in theatres on Dec 31, 2012.
Wow.
There are 3 words that capture what I felt about the movie.
*I am not trying to define the symbolism in the movie, but this is what resonated in my heart
Grace
One of the reoccurring themes in Les Mis is grace, particularly how Jean Valjean experiences grace and in turn gives grace to others. In the beginning, Valjean steals silverware from a bishop and is caught by the police. However, instead of pressing charges, the bishop gives Valjean two more silver candlesticks, absolving him of all charges, and quietly tells Valjean that his soul has been bought from evil and given to God. Overwhelmed by this unreasonable, irrational, and surprising act of grace, Jean Valjean decides to change his life and start anew.
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| Hugh Jackman's performance is a stunner. I did not expect his performance to be so powerful and raw. |
Isn't it ridiculous? Who would act that way to a sinner...not only tolerating him, but instead offering him free grace when he clearly does not deserve it. It is an unbelievable image of our Father God's grace towards me, a sinner who does not deserve his grace. It challenges me. How do I offer grace and compassion? This leads me to the second word...
Compassion
Fantine is a mother who loses her job at a factory and is forced to sell herself in order to make money to send to her daughter. In the movie, Anne Hathaway does an incredible job portraying the despair and misery that Fantine has to endure for the sake of her daughter. I won't go into detail but I connected so much with her character that when she began to sing I Dreamed a Dream...I couldn't help but think of all the people who are marginalized in my own community, real living persons whose lives and dreams have also been crushed because of the cruelty of life. I thought of all the people who no longer experience love, who no longer have dreams...because they can't see anything other than pain.
At this point, Jean Valjean has compassion on Fantine, taking care of her and vowing to take care of her daughter also. In contrast, inspector Javert calls her a liar and wants to arrest her. He thinks she fabricates a sappy story to get money (won't go into detail. see movie to know full story). It seriously makes me think...when I see oppressed people on the streets of Vancouver, do I react like Valjean or Javert? Do I have compassion, or do I judge?
Redemption
Les Mis is set around the time of the French Revolution, and the overarching story revolves around radicals who challenge the government. *SPOILER ALERT*
In the end, all the radicals are killed in the battle with the French soldiers. Jean Valjean also dies from weariness, and there is a scene where his soul is led by Fantine to another realm...and then the scene fills with light, and an image of hundreds of people on the barricades singing of their freedom and identity...singing of a place where there is no more pain and suffering. It was at this point that my tears were uncontrolled, because I imagined the day when there will be no more tears (think Revelations)...the day when death shall have no dominion and we shall all be victorious in King Jesus. There may be so much pain and suffering...and yet it is all worth it in the end. The glory is far, far more than you and I can imagine when we see God face to face.
I have only touched on the surface of the movie and done it no justice, so please watch it if you haven't yet. I am not trying to make a dogmatic claim on what Les Misérables is about, nor am I trying to impose my theology on it. What my reflections depict is how I have been affected by it...to think about how to change my current way of living.
Today
I live on earth under the kingship of Jesus. He challenges me to a lifestyle of grace, compassion, and love. Often times I think I have a good plan but he shows be that his way is better and often different from my way. Above all, I need to realize that he is able to do far, far more than I can ask or imagine. Honestly, I cannot give grace...only God can do that. I love because God first loved (1 John 5:19). And I need to acknowledge that no matter how much I learn or how much I experience, God still does far, far more than I can imagine.
Les Misérables is one story of grace, compassion, and redemption. It seems we all long to belong to a greater story...a story of Fantines and Valjeans. Many people are ignored on the streets each day because they're just another person. I'm guilty of that. I want to know the Fantines, and of course the Valjeans. But the truth is, we all live in a great story, the greater story of God's kingdom here on earth. Each person has value, and each person has his or her own story that is just as valuable as yours or mine. See that lady on the street? She is Fantine.
Each person has, or has had, a dream. I'm encouraged to uncover and encourage those dreams.
...and that is why Les Misérables is the movie of 2012 for me.
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