Les Mis II

It is much more prominent in the book than the movie, "Les Miserables," that for Jean Val Jean to save Marius, he will lose Cosette and be alone.  "Who am I?" becomes the question.  He does a harsh and dreadful thing.  He puts his own life on the line and goes to save Cosette's love, Marius.  He carries Marius through the sewers of Paris, and saves his life, without Marius or Cosette knowing that he was the savior.  Healed, Marius and Cosette are going to marry.  Jean Val Jean realizes that her reputation is ruined if anyone knows that Jean Val Jean is not gentry, but a ex-con thief who broke parole so many lifetimes ago.  Jean Val Jean leaves and does not say where he will be going.

This is self-sacrifice and self-denial.  This is taking up one's cross, to do what will cause great loss, for love of another.  Jean Val Jean knows that God loves him, and he loves God and Cosette.  He loves Cosette, his ward, such that to love another human being this way is to see the face of God.  His love, his sacrifice, becomes a mirror to his soul in which he then sees the divine indwelling of which the books tell us exist.  Again, see the movie.  Sunday night is Golden Globe awards.  See if it beats out "Lincoln" for best movie and Hugh beats out Daniel for best actor.  Or, maybe not.