That’s what Easter is all about, Jean Valjean!
Les Miserables the novel by Victor Hugo which runs 1426 pages. (I’ve read it.)( Needless to say, to try to give you a grasp of what this is about might be difficult. Suffice it to say that it is about the Miserable Ones, those who suffer and are persecuted in the 19th Century France. It is about the struggle of simple and good people against tyranny, injustice and the chains of social structure.
I was playing the music for a friend of mine once and I was trying to explain the story as the music went along. I would say, “OK, this is when so and so died, and this is when this girl died and this is when all these people die.”
And she looked at me and said, “It sounds pretty depressing.” I explained how it really is not, due to the last song of the show.
The hero, Jean Valjean, after a long and difficult life is dying (of course) in the arms of his adopted daughter. As he dies all of the Miserable Ones come back from the dead to lead him to heaven and they sing this final song.
Do you hear the people sing, lost in the valley of the night.
It is the music of a people who are striving for the light.
For the wretched of the earth, there is a flame that never dies
Even the darkest night will end and the sun shall rise.
In the midst of darkness there is light, in the midst of sadness, there is joy, in the midst of death, there is new life. That is our Christian story. That is the reason we celebrate Easter. That is why we sing our own song of Alleluia.
Today we recall when Christ broke the chains of death, had the last laugh on Satan, rose from the dead. We recall today the most important words in all of history:
He is not here. He is risen!
Yet in the midst of our joy, in the midst of our Alleluias, there is a second, more challenging message. In Les Miserables it sounded like this:
Will you join in our crusade, who will be strong and stand with me
Somewhere beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing, say do you hear the distant drum?
It is the future that they bring when tomorrow comes.
I believe that is the message of All Things New. We are called to share the good news of this glorious day to the poor, the weak, the suffering, the lost, the Miserable Ones.
Happy Easter!
DMI Update
We had over 700 responses from our parish fami- ly. (93%! Well done, Holy.) There is another sur- vey about Catholic education. It is not parish specific, although you will have to locate the gen- eral area of the school you either went to or send your children to. (Holy Redeemer is Mid-County)
A Few Good Men (and Women!)
There are openings on both our Parish Council and our School Board that need to be filled for next year. Many individuals who have served faithfully, especially in the midst of the pandemic are stepping aside, and we are looking for new people with fresh ideas. That could be you. Two things. I would like to thank those who have served in the past, you have helped make our parish and our school the bright cities on a hill that they are. Next, if I approach you in the next couple of weeks and ask you to serve, please consider it. I really rely on these groups and your input will be even more valuable as the en- tire Archdiocese undergoes transformation. It is actually a very exciting time!
Father Kevin