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Early in Victor Hugo’s novel, Les Misérables, a convict and lifelong prisoner, Jean Valjean, who is desperate for a place to rest and eat, is driven and directed to the home of Bishop Bienvenue. The fictional character of the bishop is modeled after a real French Bishop Charles-Bienvenu de Miollis (1753-1843). He earned the moniker “Bienvenue,” because the word means “welcome.” 

In the novel, when everyone in the countryside rejects the wretched Valjean, the welcoming Bishop brings him in, feeds him, and gives him a place to sleep. Predictably, in the middle of the night as the bishop feigned sleep, the convict steals the silverware from the abbey and runs away. The next day, after the bishop’s sister is reeling in shock at the theft of the few things that the bishop had not given away, the police (gendarmes) drag Valjean back to the abbey. 

There, instead of being greeted with anger and accusation by the priest, Bishob Bienvenue says, with the joy of a father whose prodigal son has returned, “We have been expecting you.”  The bishop gives the convict two candlesticks in addition to the silver he had stolen, and the police are dismissed. Valjean reacts with the simple expression, “Is it true: I’m free?”

Should that we all strive to be Bishop Bienvenue. 

Last Friday night or Saturday morning, two of the mums I had planted in the garden boxes, were stolen. They were taken right out of the ground. The holes were left in the soil where they had been. One was a bright yellow mum that helped create the letter “S” (for Sojourn) in one of the boxes. The other was a rust colored mum that completed the left crossbeam of the cross of Christ, unartfully depicted in the other floral array. 

But who could have taken the mums?  I can answer that question: someone who either had no car and/or did not have the $6 to buy two mums from Lowe’s. It was someone who wanted the beauty of the flowers and was willing to steal from a church for that end. Someone, who like Jean Valjean, was desperate. Someone who needs Jesus more than anything in the world. 

For that person, I will offer this: I will not look at our security camera footage to see who you are. I will, and have been, praying for you. You are always welcomed here. If you want more pretty flowers, come knock on the door and I will give you all of our flowers in Jesus’ name. You are no enemy of mine, and you do not have to be an enemy of the cross. The offer of salvation is yours for the taking, through repentance and faith. 

May the rust of the mums remind you of the dried blood that gathered at the foot of the cross. Blood that was shed to take the penalty of your sin. It is a gift, freely given to you.

May the bright yellow of the mums remind you of the glory of the Lord, a fellowship with God that is offered to you through the sacrifice of Jesus. You can look into the eyes of our loving Savior and say, like Valjean, “Is it true: I’m free?”

And may you come to know him and become a part of our fellowship. There are free coffee and donuts for you every Sunday morning at 10:00. I would love to make your acquaintance and be your friend.