Last week, I finally had the chance to watch "Babette's Feast". This is a classic and truly beautiful foreign language film from the 80's which features two elderly sisters whose late father was the founder of a strict Christian sect. Their lives (and those of the few remaining members of the church) have been marked by denial of all earthly pleasures, including all culinary pleasures, their diet consisting primarily of codfish and ale bread.
There is so much to the story, but the life-changing moment happens when Babette (a refugee that these sisters has taken in) is allowed to prepare a real French meal for the church members. Little do the sisters know that Babette is a premier chef whose lavish banquet will overwhelm their neglected taste buds. It is a funny and powerful scene when this beaten down congregation begin to enjoy the graciousness of their host.
My favorite moment is when the General speaks. To understand the full context of this, you need to see the movie, but here is his speech as the meal has settled and all are reflecting on this evening:
Mercy and truth have met together.
Righteousness and bliss shall kiss one another.
Man in his weakness and shortsightedness believes he must make choices n this life.
He trembles at the risks he takes.
We do know fear, but no, our choice is of no importance.
There comes a time when your eyes are opened, and we come to realize that mercy is infinite.
We need only await it with confidence, and receive it with gratitude.
Mercy imposes no conditions.
And lo! Everything we have chosen has been granted to us.
And everything we rejected has also been granted.
Yes, we even get back what we rejected.
For mercy and truth have met together, and righteousness and bliss shall kiss one another.
Again, the movie will clarify what is meant by choices chosen and rejected, but I so loved his take on mercy being infinite. And that all we do is await it with confidence and receive it with gratitude. Is this not the true life of the Christian? This is faith - waiting for God's infinite mercy shown us in the death and resurrection of His Son and then receiving this feast of every spiritual blessing in Christ with gratitude.