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| "Take Up Your Cross," Hermano Leon Clipart |
Readers’ Theatre
(based on Matthew 16: 21-28)
Narr: From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly
about what was to happen to him—
that he would have to go to Jerusalem,
and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders,
the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law.
He would be killed,
but on the third day he would be raised to new life.
But Peter took him aside
and began to reprimand him for saying such things.
Peter: No, Lord! Never!
These things that You are saying—
they will never happen to You!
Narr: But Jesus turned to Peter and said:
Jesus: Get away from me, Satan!
You are a dangerous trap—a stumbling block to me.
You are seeing things merely from a human point of view,
not from God’s.
Narr: Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said,
Jesus: If any of you wants to be my follower,
you must turn from your selfish ways,
take up your cross, and follow me.
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.
But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
And what do you benefit
if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
Is anything worth more than your soul?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father
and will judge all people according to their deeds.
And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now
will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.
