United Methodist Church Of Westlake Village

Send us a textThe tension between justice and mercy creates one of life's most profound spiritual dilemmas. Through the character of Inspector Javert from Les Misérables, we explore what happens when justice becomes divorced from mercy, and a system of rules becomes an idol.Javert's obsessive pursuit of Jean Valjean spans decades, even as he witnesses evidence of Valjean's transformation and redemption. Born into poverty himself, Javert responds by becoming rigidly committed to upholding the law without exception. Where Valjean learns to accept and extend grace, Javert cannot see beyond his black-and-white understanding of justice.The climax of their relationship arrives when Javert, finally showing mercy by allowing Valjean to rescue the wounded Marius, finds himself unable to live with this transgression against his principles. His suicide raises profound questions: Can justice without mercy ever be truly just? How do we create systems that allow for redemption while maintaining boundaries? W