We are concluding our Worship series titled “The Grace of Les Misérables,” based on the book by the same title by Rev. Matt Rawle. We have explored themes of grace, rigid justice, the plight of the underprivileged, love, and advocacy.
As we conclude this week, we find parallel imagery and inspiration in Victor Hugo’s masterpiece alongside the garden’s of sacred text. The bishop who gifts Valjean with silver has a daily practice of walking in a garden. As Valjean raises Cosette, he does so in a home with an unruly garden that he evidently struggles to maintain. Marius and Cosette profess their love to each other in the secrecy of that same garden.
Often people associate God with spaces in creation. This can be the beach or the mountains or a forest or a garden—even an unruly one. I suggest these are opportunities to experience God’s transforming presence. The first humans are transformed, Jesus prays in anguish yet resolves to give himself up, and Mary Magdalen experiences the resurrection.
Genesis 2:15 (CEB)
15 The Lord God took the human and settled him in the garden of Eden to farm it and to take care of it.
Luke 22:39-46 (CEB)
39 Jesus left and made his way to the Mount of Olives, as was his custom, and the disciples followed him. 40 When he arrived, he said to them, “Pray that you won’t give in to temptation.” 41 He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed.42 He said, “Father, if it’s your will, take this cup of suffering away from me. However, not my will but your will must be done.” 43 Then a heavenly angel appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 He was in anguish and prayed even more earnestly. His sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground. 45 When he got up from praying, he went to the disciples. He found them asleep, overcome by grief. 46 He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation.”
John 20:11-18 (CEB)
11 Mary stood outside near the tomb, crying. As she cried, she bent down to look into the tomb. 12 She saw two angels dressed in white, seated where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head and one at the foot. 13 The angels asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
She replied, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they’ve put him.”14 As soon as she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she didn’t know it was Jesus.
15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabbouni” (which means Teacher).
17 Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold on to me, for I haven’t yet gone up to my Father. Go to my brothers and sisters and tell them, ‘I’m going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene left and announced to the disciples, “I’ve seen the Lord.” Then she told them what he said to her.
- Do you have a significant life memory that involves a garden? Did a family member cultivate a garden? Did (or do) you?
- What effect do gardens have on the human spirit? What is live-giving about a garden?
- Where do you see connections in the depictions of gardens above? Do these gardens symbolize anything spiritual for you? Does the image of the garden offer an invitation to you as a follower of Christ?
- Who is God calling you to become? How is God inviting you to grow in faith? In what ways will you seek to bless others as a servant of Jesus?