Grace, Justice, and the Hope of Liberation
Summary
Drawing from the story of Les Misérables, we are invited to reflect on the tension between law and grace, survival and solidarity, and the hope for a liberated future. The musical, set against the backdrop of failed and successful revolutions, centers not on war, but on the longing for peace, justice, and a world where all are free. The characters—Jean Valjean, Javert, Cosette, Marius, the Thénardiers—each embody different responses to suffering and oppression. Jean Valjean’s life is transformed by an act of mercy, leading him to devote himself to love and justice, while Javert clings to the law, seeking safety in rigid order but ultimately cutting himself off from compassion and relationship.
This narrative mirrors our own moment in history, where systems of domination and inequality persist, and where many are tempted to secure their own survival at the expense of others. Yet, the arc of history—and of God’s kingdom—bends toward liberation. Even when the revolution seems far off, and the suffering of the present feels overwhelming, we are called to remember that the end has already been written: the kingdom is coming, and the sun will rise. Our choices, both systemic and personal, matter deeply. Will we align ourselves with the logic of empire, hoarding and dehumanizing, or will we choose the way of grace, mutuality, and care for one another?
The gospel is not neutral in this struggle. God’s vision, as proclaimed by the prophets, is for the bonds of injustice to be loosed, the oppressed to go free, and the hungry to be fed. We are invited to participate in this prophetic hope—not just in grand gestures, but in the daily, often unseen acts of mercy, generosity, and solidarity. Like Eponine, we may love and hope for a world we do not see realized in our lifetimes, but to love another person is to see the face of God. The kingdom is both a future promise and a present reality, breaking in through our choices to love, to care, and to build community. May we be brave enough to let this hope take root in us, to love boldly in the midst of suffering, and to remember that no one is free until all are free.
Key Takeaways
- The Tension Between Law and Grace: The story of Jean Valjean and Javert highlights the spiritual danger of clinging to law and order as a source of safety. True transformation comes not from rigid adherence to rules, but from receiving and extending mercy. Grace disrupts cycles of punishment and opens the way to new life, inviting us to trust in God’s compassion over the world’s systems of control. [39:41]
- The Arc of Liberation Is Long, But Certain: History, both sacred and secular, is full of failed revolutions and setbacks. Yet, from the perspective of eternity, the movement toward justice and freedom is inevitable. Even when we do not see the fruits of our labor, we are called to trust that God’s kingdom is coming, and to participate in its unfolding with hope and perseverance. [48:15]
- Survival vs. Solidarity: The Thénardiers represent the temptation to secure our own survival by adopting the predatory strategies of the powerful, even at the expense of our kin. The gospel calls us to examine where we have internalized these logics of empire and to choose instead the way of solidarity—recognizing that our safety and flourishing are bound up with the well-being of others. [56:33]
- The Power of Small Acts of Mercy: The transformation of Jean Valjean’s life begins with a single act of undeserved kindness. Our daily choices to extend grace, generosity, and connection—however small—are the building blocks of the kingdom. These acts, repeated over time, weave a web of hope and healing that makes God’s love tangible in the world. [59:52]
- Loving in the Face of Unfulfilled Hope: Like Eponine, we may love and labor for a world we do not see realized in our lifetimes. This requires both courage and grief, but it is also the heart of Christian hope. To love another person, even in the midst of suffering and disappointment, is to glimpse the face of God and to participate in the coming of the kingdom here and now. [01:03:32]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[33:57] - Introduction and Personal Reflection
[35:02] - The Heart of Les Mis: Revolution and Suffering
[36:45] - Jean Valjean: Mercy and Transformation
[39:41] - Javert and the Law vs. Grace
[42:12] - Marius: Privilege, Revolution, and Love
[43:34] - The Thénardiers: Survival and Exploitation
[45:02] - The Historical Backdrop: Failed and Successful Revolutions
[48:15] - Living in the Tension: Our Present Moment
[51:29] - The Gospel’s Side: Justice and Liberation
[53:56] - Choices: Systemic and Personal
[56:33] - The Logic of Empire and the Call to Solidarity
[59:52] - Receiving and Extending Mercy
[01:02:47] - Eponine: Loving in the Midst of Suffering
[01:04:37] - To Love Another Person Is to See the Face of God
[01:17:14] - Communion: Remembering God’s Liberating Love
[01:29:58] - Community Life and Opportunities to Give
[01:34:21] - Volunteer Opportunities: “Screw It” Party
[01:35:15] - Financial Giving and Closing Gratitude
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Tension Between Law and Grace, Survival and Solidarity, and the Hope for Liberation
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### Bible Reading
Isaiah 58:6-8 (ESV)
> “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”
Micah 4:3-4 (ESV)
> “He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.”
Matthew 25:35-40 (ESV)
> “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me... Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Isaiah 58, what does God say is the kind of “fast” or religious practice that pleases Him? What actions are listed? ([51:29])
2. In the story of Les Misérables, what are some of the different ways characters respond to suffering and oppression? How do Jean Valjean and Javert differ in their approach? ([39:41])
3. The sermon mentions the phrase “to love another person is to see the face of God.” How is this idea reflected in the biblical passages and in the story of Les Mis? ([01:04:37])
4. What is the significance of the image from Micah about beating swords into plowshares and everyone sitting under their own vine and fig tree? ([33:57])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does God emphasize acts of justice and mercy (like freeing the oppressed and feeding the hungry) over religious rituals in Isaiah 58? What does this reveal about God’s priorities? ([51:29])
2. The sermon draws a contrast between survival and solidarity, using the Thénardiers as an example of survival at the expense of others. What are some modern examples where people or systems choose survival over solidarity? ([56:33])
3. Jean Valjean’s life is changed by a single act of mercy. Why do you think small acts of grace can have such a big impact, both in the story and in our own lives? ([59:52])
4. The sermon says, “the arc of history—and of God’s kingdom—bends toward liberation.” How does trusting in this long-term hope affect the way we live in the present, especially when change seems slow or impossible? ([48:15])
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon challenges us to examine where we have “internalized the logic of empire”—ways we might prioritize our own survival or comfort at the expense of others. Can you think of a specific area in your life where this might be true? What would it look like to choose solidarity instead? ([56:33])
2. Jean Valjean’s transformation began with receiving mercy. When was a time you received unexpected grace or kindness? How did it change you, and how might you pass that on to someone else this week? ([59:52])
3. The gospel calls us to participate in God’s vision for justice and liberation, not just in big ways but in “daily, often unseen acts of mercy, generosity, and solidarity.” What is one small, concrete act you could do this week to care for someone in need? ([59:52])
4. The sermon says, “to love another person is to see the face of God.” Who in your life is hard for you to love right now? What is one step you could take to move toward them in love, even if it’s difficult? ([01:04:37])
5. The story of Eponine is about loving and hoping for a world that may not be realized in our lifetime. Is there a hope or dream for justice or healing that you are holding onto, even if you may not see it fulfilled? How do you keep going in the face of disappointment? ([01:03:32])
6. The sermon asks us to consider both systemic and personal choices. What is one way you could use your voice, resources, or privilege to challenge injustice or support liberation in your community? ([53:56])
7. The image from Micah is about peace and safety for all. What would it look like for you to help create a “vine and fig tree” space—where others feel safe and cared for—in your home, workplace, or neighborhood? ([33:57])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for courage to choose grace over law, solidarity over survival, and to let hope for God’s kingdom take root in their daily lives.
Devotional
Day 1: The True Fast: Loosing the Bonds of Injustice
God calls us not to empty rituals or performative piety, but to a life of active compassion—breaking the chains of oppression, sharing our bread with the hungry, welcoming the homeless, and refusing to turn away from our own kin. The measure of our faith is not in our prayers or fasting alone, but in how we care for the vulnerable and stand against systems that dehumanize and exploit. When we choose mercy and justice, our light breaks forth and healing springs up, echoing the promise that even the darkest nights will end and the sun will rise. [52:35]
Isaiah 58:6-8 (ESV)
“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”
Reflection: Who in your life or community is suffering under a burden you could help lift today—how might you tangibly share your resources or advocate for their freedom?
Day 2: Grace Over Law: Choosing Mercy in a World of Judgment
In a world obsessed with law, order, and punishment, we are invited to live differently—choosing mercy, compassion, and connection over rigid adherence to rules that dehumanize. Like Jean Valjean, who was transformed by an act of undeserved grace, we can let go of the need to judge or exclude and instead build communities rooted in forgiveness and love, even when the systems around us demand otherwise. The grace we receive is meant to overflow into the lives of others, creating webs of support and hope that defy the logic of empire. [40:50]
Matthew 9:13 (ESV)
“Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Reflection: When have you been tempted to judge or exclude someone based on their past or their status—how could you choose mercy and connection instead?
Day 3: The Kingdom Is Coming: Living in Prophetic Hope
Though we may not see the fullness of liberation or the kingdom of God in our lifetimes, we are called to live in hope, trusting that God’s promises are sure and that the arc of history bends toward justice and freedom. Our present moment may feel bleak, but we are part of a story much larger than ourselves—a story in which every act of love, every choice for justice, helps usher in the dawn. The kingdom is both a future promise and a present reality breaking into our lives through our collective and individual choices. [48:15]
Revelation 21:1-4 (ESV)
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Reflection: What is one small, concrete way you can act today as if the kingdom of God is already breaking in—how can you embody hope in the face of discouragement?
Day 4: Solidarity Over Survival: Rejecting the Logic of Empire
We are constantly tempted to prioritize our own survival, even at the expense of others, adopting the predatory strategies of the powerful and forgetting our shared humanity. Yet the way of Jesus calls us to solidarity—to refuse to build our security on the backs of others, to grieve the ways we have participated in systems of harm, and to choose instead the path of mutual care and collective flourishing. The kingdom grows not through hoarding or competition, but through sacrificial community and the refusal to abandon one another. [57:47]
Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Reflection: In what area of your life have you been tempted to “pick the pockets” of others—how might you instead practice solidarity and generosity this week?
Day 5: To Love Another Person Is to See the Face of God
The deepest longing of our hearts—to love and be loved—is a glimpse of the divine, a way of seeing God’s face in one another. Even when love is unfulfilled or costly, even when suffering persists, every act of compassion, every choice to pour out grace, brings us closer to God’s heart and to the world God dreams for us. May we have the courage to love boldly, to see God’s image in every person, and to let that love change us and the world. [01:04:37]
1 John 4:12 (ESV)
No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
Reflection: Who is someone you find difficult to love—how might you intentionally seek to see the face of God in them today?
Quotes
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