Today’s Reading: Psalms 24:5 NIV
In a classic tale written by Victor Hugo, we get a glimpse of vindication. The story of Jean Valjean is one that is timeless and has been recreated in several forms and venues. It was originally released as a novel then transformed into plays, opera, and movies : Les Miserables. In the story Jean Valjean is arrested and imprisoned for stealing a piece of bread from the local baker for his widowed sister and her seven children. After several attempts to escape prison, he is released after 19 years. Immediately after his release Jean is befriended by a bishop of the church and then steals from the bishop. Jean is recaptured and brought back to the bishop for questioning. While the police have Jean at the bishop’s residence, the bishop tells the officers that he was a friend and he had given him the silver items. The bishop also tells him that he has forgotten the set of silver candlesticks. This act changes the course of Jean Valjean’s life and he becomes a truly honest man. But throughout the novel there is an antagonist, Javert, who constantly is seeking out Jean Valjean to re-catch him in the act of being dishonest.
This story is written in the mid-to-late nineteenth century in France, 1862. This is the same time that the America was going through a civil dispute that put many individuals at risk of poverty and starvation. It was a time of cultural and political unrest. This is a time of uncertainty of everything. This story shows that in the time of complete desperation, a man is imprisoned due tot need for him to feed his family. Jean is a man who has worked hard and still unable to help support his widowed sister and seven children. The system has then changed his life for 19 years. Once out he reverts to his past ways: survival. He’s true vindication is from the bishop in the scene with the police. The bishop could have condemned Jean Valjean, but he took compassion on him and gave him everything.
The vindicator is one that clears one of shame or suspicion. It has taken me 38 years to fully understand a portion of how God vindication works. As a young man, I would spend countless hours at my grandmother’s house and see how she would interact with everyone. During these times she would aid and assist many people who were family, friends, and strangers. In these interactions she would always give more than expected. There were even times that she would give repeatedly and repeatedly without question. This puzzled me at the time. I wondered, “How many times will she keep giving?” But she kept giving until she passed away at the age of 84. The secret was she knew that God’s vindication on the person is infinite. She always had a connection to God through her faith and this was communicated through her actions. She continued to give and bless others.
As with the bishop in the story, she knew that the grace that God had given her would be passed on to the next person no matter the circumstance. God’s vindication is one that is contagious. When you have been given the spirit of vindication, you will be able to pass this on through your actions.
One main point to stress is that even though we have been vindicated, the enemy will continue to purse us even after we have severed our penance and have claim our victory. This is why it is important to continue to have a relationship with God and thank him for the vindication that he has given us, lest we all fall victim to the countless reminders of our old selves.