The following is a scene from Les Miserables (1998) starring Liam Neeson. In this clip we see an encounter between Neeson's character Jean Valjean and a Bishop (Peter Vaughan).
Today, I can identify with Jean Valjean. A person who sometimes feels there is just no other way or just simply doesn't have the courage to walk the way he knows he should and feeling busted, exposed, caught and guilty as hell. Expecting to be rejected by God for my misdoings, heck, my mis-beings, and realize that it is only I that has indicted myself to the highest degree.
To come face to face with the Judge and expect my self indictment to be upheld by this higher court only to discover a Father who judges for the love of you and I, His beloved children. Judgement that leads to life, to wholeness and true justice. That we too may learn to love, not for fear of exclusion and rejection rather in response to perfect love.
We become love or if you like, we take on the image or Christ (2 Cor. 3:18) or partakers in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). In this learning to love, we quite naturally turn from our brokeness and in doing so, sin is destroyed! The good Father in His mercy and love satisfies justice by making us the executioner, the destroyer of sin as in Christ we turn to Him - to love.
I imagine, in this moment as I hear Jesus in my heart, I hear the words of the Bishop as he says to Jean Valjean:
"Jean Valjean my brother you no longer belong to evil. With this silver, I have bought your soul. I've ransomed you from fear and hatred, and now I give you back to God."
