Here’s a readers’ theatre setting of Luke 9: 51-62,
the suggested gospel reading for Proper 8, Year C. It is set for two voices.
Readers’
Theatre
(Luke 9: 51-62)
One: As the
time drew near for Jesus to ascend to heaven,
Jesus resolutely
set out for Jerusalem.
He sent some people
ahead of him,
into the territory
of the Samaritans,
a minority group at
odds with the Jewish majority.
He wanted his
messengers to find a place for them to stay
in a village along
the road to Jerusalem.
But because the
Samaritans realized Jesus was going to Jerusalem,
they refused to
welcome them.
When James and John
saw this, they said to Jesus,
“Lord, do you want
us to call down fire from heaven
to destroy these
people who have rejected you
(just as Elijah
did)?”
But, turning toward
them and shaking his head, Jesus said:
Two: You
just don’t get it.
The Son of Man
didn’t come to ruin the lives of people,
He came to liberate
them!
One: So
they went on to another village.
As
they were walking along, someone said to Jesus,
“I will follow you
wherever you go.”
But Jesus replied,
Two: Foxes
are at home in their burrows.
Birds
are at home in their nests.
But
the Son of Man has no home.
One: He saw
another person, and said:
Two: Come,
follow me.
One: “I’d
be glad to,” the man agreed, but added,
“first let me
return home and bury my father.”
Two: Let
the dead bury their dead.
I’m
giving you a different calling –
to
go and proclaim the kingdom of God.
One: “I’ll
come, Jesus,” said another.
“I’ll
follow you.
But
just let me first run home to say good-bye to my family.”
Two: Listen,
if your hand is on the plow but your eyes are looking behind you,
you’re not fit for
the kingdom of God.”
