“To love another person is to see the face of God”

John’s Gospel was written in about 90 AD by a community
established by John, some 60 years after the death and
Resurrection of Jesus.  In John 17 the writers of John’s Gospel, who continue the influence of the
disciple John, show Jesus in a
personal and private moment of prayer. Having finished his public work, and having finished
teaching and being with his
disciples, Jesus steps into a prayer. We eavesdrop on his words.

…. I am asking on their
behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours.
All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them.
And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father,
protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one…

To my mind John 17 seems very much like the final scene in Les Miserables in that they both
depict a prayer at the end of one’s life:

God on high …
hear my prayer.
Take me now …
to thy care.
Where you are …
let me be.
Take me now …
take me there.
Bring me home.
Bring me home.
On this page,
I write my last confession.
Read it well,
when I am last am sleeping.
It’s the story,
of those who always loved you.
Your mother gave your life for you and gave you to my keeping.
Take my hand
and lead me to salvation.
Take my love,
 for love is everlasting.
And remember the truth that once was spoken
to love another person is to see the face of God.

In John 17 we eavesdrop on Jesus’ final prayer. In the epilogue of Les Miserables we eavesdrop on the final prayer experience of Jean Valjean. The prayer of Jean Valjean at the end of Les Miserables and the prayer of Jesus at the end of John’s Gospel seem remarkably similar. Both Jesus and Jean Valjean pray for the people that they have loved that will continue to feel loved and protected by God’s grace. Both Jean Valjean and Jesus look forward to homecoming, Jean Valjean prays “bring me home” and Jesus prays “you and I are one.” Ultimately both Jesus and Jean Valjean portray the message that the love of God and the love of each is one: to love another person is to see the face of God thus in every moment of authentic self emptying love we are one with God and Jesus and the Creator are one.