Colossians 1:13, 14
13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; 14 in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.
Reflection
This may have been mentioned before, but Beauty and the Beast (1991) is the best animated musical (and probably the best animated film) ever made. Likewise, th. e live action version (2017) with Emma Watson is the best live action remake Disney has done. That is obvious. Better than the animated film! I cried at the theater watching the remake. A masterpiece, as far as I am concerned. The reason it is better is because it tells the story of the Beast, making him a tragic figure (he lost his mom to a disease early and had a hateful father). Furthermore, it explains why, for example, the butler and cook became household objects (something the animated film never addressed). They were cursed for being complicit in the prince’s bad behavior and hateful demeanor.
Beauty and the Best is really not a love story as much as it is a redemption story. The love story is a tangent to the bigger story… a man who makes right the bad actions of his past and becomes good. Days in the Sun, a new song in the live action film, has a lyric: “all those days in the sun, what I’d give to relive just one! Undo what’s done and bring back the light.” Paradise lost! It reminds me of the life without God, dark and corrupt. It is a life of loss of innocence. Redemption is being able to live in the light of Christ, forsaking hate and oppression. In many ways I like this movie because I like to see redemption win! And if we are in Christ’ we win… we are redeemed… much like the Beast!
Prayer
Lord, thank you that we have been redeemed, from darkness to your marvelous light. Thank you that we find in you all that is good, and that you can have saved us from our helpless estate.
