This movie! It is one of my all time favorites. I can't help but cry every single time I watch this. I am incredibly overwhelmed by the grace shown to Jean Valjean by the priest. It is extravagant grace. It's this kind of grace and love that changes people at the core.
None of us are beyond the reach of grace. None of us deserve it, no matter how good we live or how horrible we live. Everyone deserves a second chance. It's not up to me to decide whether or not someone is worthy, deserving, changed or not. It's not about "right" belief. It's about how well you love.
This is also a good reminder that stuff is just that...stuff. We cannot stay so attached to it that we put it above another human being. The priest could have taken the moral high ground and had Valjean punished for his crime. But he chose the path of non-violence (by not insisting on punishing him). He chose life (punishment could have been death for his offense). He chose love (instead of embitterment after helping a poor stranger). His choice showed sacrifice - sacrifice of his possessions. Sacrifice of his ego. Sacrifice of his rights. He gave his love, stuff and grace away without the surety of these actions truly affecting change in this man's heart. He ultimately knew that love overcomes fear and hatred.
This is also a good reminder that stuff is just that...stuff. We cannot stay so attached to it that we put it above another human being. The priest could have taken the moral high ground and had Valjean punished for his crime. But he chose the path of non-violence (by not insisting on punishing him). He chose life (punishment could have been death for his offense). He chose love (instead of embitterment after helping a poor stranger). His choice showed sacrifice - sacrifice of his possessions. Sacrifice of his ego. Sacrifice of his rights. He gave his love, stuff and grace away without the surety of these actions truly affecting change in this man's heart. He ultimately knew that love overcomes fear and hatred.
