When I first saw Les Miserables on Broadway I was very deeply moved by Jean Valjean’s resolve for compassion against harshness in a time of unrest — the 1800s after the defeat of Napoleon. He changed and became a man of outstanding character and generosity. He rose from a marked ex-convict to being major of a town and owner of a factory. Yet even in his own factory he failed to see an injustice in progress against Fantine, a poor, single mother who was envied by other women factory workers. There harassment and false accusations of prostitution led to the sleazy factory foreman firing her. When Valjean discovered his oversight, he did all in his power to make amends. Yet the harshness of life left indelible pain upon Fontaine and brought about her death. She beautifully sung of her harsh experience in the song, “I Dreamed a Dream”. She knew of a time when men were kind but it all went wrong. Her wonderful dreams never came to be, because the tormenting life she lived killed her dreams.
I have not seen all the movie versions of Les Miserables, Victor Hugo’s novel; but I have seen a French version made in 1995 with the setting being the Nazi occupation of France in World War II. As Nazis sought the genocide of the Jewish, you would hope everyone else would rally to save them. There was some compassion; but even in these most harsh times, people took advantage of “the miserable ones” for their own gain.
Most recently in our times when people have suffered great losses and hardships due to economic disaster brought about by reckless backroom betting in financial markets. The injured see that the shady, greedy brokers get help while the common person gets fleeced of work-earned retirement investments, and imprisoned by usurious credit rates. You would expect financial firms to see the hardship and lower the rates; but they force diligent debtors into more financial ruin by doing the exact opposite.
Jesus saw those who labor and are heavy laden and he invited them to receive rest for their souls by taking his yoke upon them (Matthew 11:25-30). Jesus explained that the Father, who is Lord of heaven and earth, had a special desire to bring rest to the souls of his little children. This is why He revealed His will in a way that would appeal to them, and to all who are willing to be humble. The yoke is not merely law or teaching, but a relationship of walking and working together with Jesus, like yoked oxen walk and work together in plowing a field. The work of Jesus is to establish justice, not to stir people to rebellion and terrorism; but to show and teach the way of kindness of mercy to the world. This is the nature of his rule and the power of his kingdom to change things. Jesus brought justice through a personal service of love and goodness that deliberately cared for those most often overlooked due to the evils of pride, self-serving power, and favoritism. Indeed, Jesus would not break the bruised reed or snuff out the smoldering wick (Matthew 12:15-21).
Do the kind of actions taught and exemplified by Jesus, and imitated by Valjean seem too little to make a dent against the world’s systemic evil? Even today’s world, with all the happiness it claims, is harsh and filled with many harassed, helpless and burdened souls in need of mercy. Are we up to the task of this great calling? On one occasion the disciples failed in their calling and wondered why. Jesus rebuked them for being faithless and twisted; not for lacking faith, but for having so little faith when they should have had more faith. He challenged them to have the great faith of the mustard seed which is little, like we are without God; but which grows large because of great faith (more than a little) in God (Matthew 17:14-20). Though we feel small and inadequate, our Lord challenges us to take hold of the confidence to do big things, like moving the many mountains that overshadow and oppress people in this harsh world. If we seriously undertake this challenge, we will succeed as fellow workers of the kingdom of God. The church should guard its calling as the light and salt of the earth, so that its testimony is unique: “They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9, ESV; and Matthew 5:13-14).
