The truth will set you free. (John 8:32)
Victor Hugo’s novel Les Miserables
presents us with two very different characters, Jean Valjean and
Inspector Javert. Valjean, who has spent nineteen years in prison for
stealing a loaf of bread, is hunted throughout the story by Javert, who
is committed to following “the letter of the law.” But when Javert is
captured by revolutionaries who tell Valjean to kill him, Valjean frees
him instead. Javert’s world is turned upside down by the thought that a
criminal like Valjean could act with such mercy. It is so upsetting to
the inspector that he ends up killing himself. Clearly, Valjean
experienced the greater amount of freedom, even though he lived
constantly on the run.
We might think of the Pharisees in today’s Gospel as somewhat like
Inspector Javert. They are focusing only on following the Law of Moses,
and that narrow focus has bound them up. They are missing the Holy
Spirit’s voice and presence, which are at the heart of the Law. But
Jesus wants them to know the freedom that comes from following him—the
freedom that comes from being in a relationship with him.
We might think that we are not like these Pharisees at all. We know
and love Jesus, after all. Still, we can point to areas in our lives
where we could be freer, whether it is a long-standing pattern of sin or
hurtful memories that keep us bound in fear or resentment.
Let this Lent be a time of freedom! Take your sins to Confession, and ask the Lord to loosen their hold over you.
from wau.org
No comments:
Post a Comment