In 1998, my mom, sister and I got last minute Box Office tickets to Les Miserables in New York City. I was 10 and it was my first trip to the city. The mission for the day was to get a dress for my sister’s wedding. We found a beautiful gold dress that morning at Saks Fifth Avenue and we had plenty of time to enjoy the city for the rest of the day. When we found ourselves at the Imperial Theater Box office on 45th street, my Mom thought it might be a good day for my first Broadway show. Though it had arguably a mature storyline, she knew I would fall in love with the show and with musical theater in general. She was right. That day deeply impacted my future. Both in the lessons taught in this timeless musical as well as in my love for musical theater and the career path I would choose as vocalist and music teacher. It will forever be one of my favorite memories and this will forever be by favorite show. Mom and I spent hours over the years singing along with the soundtrack. She deeply loved this show and saw it as a lesson in love, redemption, sacrifice and the promise of eternal glory.
Our favorite quote comes from the epilogue, as an aging Val Jean nears his final breath, two of the heroines who have passed on, (women who had lived challenging lives and sacrificed much), step into the scene and invite Valjean to leave this world of darkness and sorrow. They him invite him to follow them into eternal life.
Eponine begins.
“Come with me, where chains will never bind you
all your grief at last, at last behind you.
God in heaven look down on him in mercy”
Valjean responds, in final repentance,
“Forgive me all my trespasses and take me to your glory.”
With arms outstretched Eponine and Fantine invite Val Jean to begin his journey.
“Take my hand, and lead me to salvation.
Take my love, for love is everlasting.
And remember the truth that once was spoken,
to love another person is to see the face of God”
I’ve always loved this epilogue. I’ve always been drawn to these words and I’ve always believed them to be true. We know that a repentant heart is promised life in the eternal kingdom. Our Catholic faith, supported by scripture and tradition, assures us of the “cloud of witnesses,” people who have gone before us, like Eponine and Fantine, who help us as we journey towards oneness with Christ. Surely, the overall sentiment is of course consistent with the Christian life. It touches on repentance, hope, and love. But I never realized the very clear parallel of “seeing the face of God” echoed true in scripture: until now.
For in Matthew 5:3-10, Jesus draws us a map to living like Him.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children or God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of God”
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.
When you live your life built on love, true and pure love – the kind of love Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians 13 – you get to catch just a glimpse of the face of God. Because God is love.
I sang a funeral last week for an 89 year old woman, the grandmother of a friend of ours. She had been blind since her early teens – she lived a full life and went on to raise 10 children. Her earthly eyesight was limited, but her life showed that her spiritual eyesight was exceptional. She gave her love, 10 times over. She raised her family in faith, she followed her vocation, she loved with a pure heart – and we have sure and certain hope that she can now see God. What she was lacking in earthly eyesight, has surely been restored in her with the full and glorious sight of her redeemer.
And so, this epilogue reminds us to seek the Lord with a pure heart. To love others as he loved us. To love without envy, pride, dishonor, self-interest, anger. To love fully.
I don’t know why it’s taken all these years and dozens of readings of the Beatitudes for me to find this connection of my favorite quote to maybe the most well recognized scripture passage of all. But this is why we keep going back to scripture, time and time again, looking for new revelation. Scripture is a living document, the spirit moves within its pages and reveals what it intends to reveal as you come to it with an open heart.
Keep reading your Bible, you don’t know how the Lord wants to reveal himself to you today.
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