I awoke this morning and said to myself: “One day more.” Of course, I was thinking about my PhD viva tomorrow, but my mind raced to the captivating song “One Day More” in Les Miserables. Seriously, I had not planned to go there this morning.
What does Les Miserables have to do with encouraging Christian generosity?
Victor Hugo portrays the dramatic irony of God’s grace and generosity to undeserving humanity through a brief scene between Valjean and Bishop Charles-François-Bienvenu Myriel, known most commonly as “Monseigneur Bienvenu,” meaning, of course, “Lord Welcome.”
After years of prison for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s starving child, no one would extend aid to Valjean in this harsh world. None that is, except the kind bishop who warmly welcomes the lost soul, allows him to take refuge in the church, and provides him food and shelter.
When Valjean awakens, he proceeds to steal the silver articles of the church and flees only to be caught by local authorities. With irony that is only surpassed by the love of God for sinful mankind, rather than condemning Valjean, the bishop…watch the scene!
What amazing grace! Matchless generosity! The bishop’s words echo the Apostle Paul’s charge to the Corinthian Church (and to us) in 1 Corinthians 6:20.
“Remember this, my brother. See in this some higher plan.
You must use this precious silver to become an honest man.
By the witness of the martyrs, by the passion and the blood,
God has brought you out of darkness. I have bought your soul for God.”
Bishop Bienvenu in Les Miserables
You were bought with a price.
Therefore honor God with your bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:20
And since all good movies have bonus material, I give you a bonus today. Here is the YouTube movie clip of the famous song, “One Day More,” and the lyrics below (the last lines in italics are especially dear to me today). Enjoy!
ONE DAY MORE
VALJEAN
One day more!
Another day, another destiny.
This never-ending road to Calvary;
These men who seem to know my crime
Will surely come a second time.
One day more!
MARIUS
I did not live until today.
How can I live when we are parted?
VALJEAN
One day more.
MARIUS & COSETTE
Tomorrow you’ll be worlds away
And yet with you, my world has started!
EPONINE
One more day all on my own.
MARIUS & COSETTE
Will we ever meet again?
EPONINE
One more day with him not caring.
MARIUS & COSETTE
I was born to be with you.
EPONINE
What a life I might have known.
MARIUS & COSETTE
And I swear I will be true!
EPONINE
But he never saw me there!
ENJOLRAS
One more day before the storm!
MARIUS
Do I follow where she goes?
ENJOLRAS
At the barricades of freedom.
MARIUS
Shall I join my brothers there?
ENJOLRAS
When our ranks begin to form
MARIUS
Do I stay; and do I dare?
ENJOLRAS
Will you take your place with me?
ALL
The time is now, the day is here
VALJEAN
One day more!
JAVERT
One more day to revolution,
We will nip it in the bud!
We’ll be ready for these schoolboys,
They will wet themselves with blood!
VALJEAN
One day more!
M. & MME. THENARDIER
Watch ’em run amuck,
Catch ’em as they fall,
Never know your luck
When there’s a free for all,
Here a little `dip’
There a little `touch’
Most of them are goners
So they won’t miss much!
STUDENTS (2 Groups)
1: One day to a new beginning
2: Raise the flag of freedom high!
1: Every man will be a king
2: Every man will be a king
1: There’s a new world for the winning
2: There’s a new world to be won
ALL
Do you hear the people sing?
MARIUS
My place is here, I fight with you!
VALJEAN
One day more!
MARIUS & COSETTE
I did not live until today.
EPONINE
One more day all on my own!
MARIUS & COSETTE
How can I live when we are parted?
JAVERT (overlapping)
I will join these people’s heros
I will follow where they go
I will learn their little Secrets,
I will know the things they know.
VALJEAN
One day more!
MARIUS & COSETTE
Tomorrow you’ll be worlds away
EPONINE
What a life I might have known!
MARIUS & COSETTE
And yet with you my world has started
JAVERT (overlapping)
One more day to revolution
We will nip it in the bud
We’ll be ready for these
Schoolboys
THENARDIERS (overlapping)
Watch ’em run amok
Catch ’em as they fall
Never know your luck
When there’s a free-for-all!
VALJEAN
Tomorrow we’ll be far away,
Tomorrow is the judgment day
ALL
Tomorrow we’ll discover
What our God in Heaven has in store!
One more dawn
One more day
One day more!
Victor Hugo (1802-1885)