Faith,
Family & Community
At First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), we are studying the musical Les Mis as part of our Lenten journey. Our theme is Lent is Miserable…or is it? Every service and Lenten Lunch and Learn (Wednesdays 12:15-12:45 pm) will seek to understand our Lenten purpose to grow closer to God by walking in the footsteps of Jesus—while being curious about the characters and themes of Les Mis.
The main character Jean Valjean was imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister and her child. Upon his release 19 years later, he is handed a piece of paper to present to potential bosses and landlords. He is rejected at every turn. At his wits end, Valjean turns to the church. To a priest. Who welcomes him for dinner. As the custom at the rectory, whenever a guest was present the finest silver was used. Even for the former inmate Valjean. Frustrated with his circumstances in life and carrying just a bit of anger, Valjean steals the silver. He is arrested and brought in front of the priest. Instead of telling the police that he had stolen the silver, the priest corroborates the story that he had actually given the silver to Valjean. The priest then asks why he left the most important pieces behind, the candlesticks. He then charges the former inmate to live a purposeful and godly life.
The priest offered Valjean grace. Matt Rawle has written a Lenten study based on this amazing musical. In the study he writes: Lenten disciplines often are framed as commitments to obedience. We fast, pray, deny, and fulfill through a joyful obedience as a child of God. Obedience may seem to be the goal, but this isn’t the gospel. The goal of spiritual disciplines during Lent isn’t to craft a keen sense of obedience, even though obedience is important. The point is transformation. How do the Christian spiritual disciplines create space in our lives for an encounter with God? How do they open us up to God’s grace and the possibility of transformation?
Do you celebrate Lent by giving something up? I encourage my folks to take something on instead. No matter, the purpose of Lent is to be in a different faith place at the end of these 40 days. Closer to God. More like Jesus. More like Jesus who best understood what God’s grace and love are like. At the end of the musical these words are sung… And remember, The truth that once was spoken, To love another person Is to see the face of God… Maybe our journey in Lent could be that simple. Love someone else. See God’s face. I kind of think there’s a lot of grace in that.
Peace.
Kelly Ingersoll, Minister
Kelly Ingersoll is the Pastor of First Christian Church of Macomb and resides in Macomb with his wife Anne.
