Here’s a simple dramatic reading written by Nancy Townley based on Matthew 18:21-35, one of the suggested scripture texts for September 11, 2011 (Proper 19A).
(based on Matthew 18:21-35)
One: Then Peter came and said to him,
“Lord, if another member of the church sins against me,
how often should I forgive?
As many as seven times?”
Jesus said to him,
“Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.”
Two: You’ve got to be kidding! Seventy-seven times? You’re nuts!
One: That’s what He said.
Two: Listen! I’m no push-over.
Two: You’ve got to be kidding! Seventy-seven times? You’re nuts!
One: That’s what He said.
Two: Listen! I’m no push-over.
I’m willing to let bygones be bygones and all that other stuff,
but I won’t be forgiving anyone seventy-seven times,
I can tell you that!
One: Then you aren’t really forgiving them, are you?
Two: Well, sure I am.
One: Then you aren’t really forgiving them, are you?
Two: Well, sure I am.
But I won’t be a doormat.
What difference will it make if I do forgive seventy-seven times
or even more?
One: Maybe then you will truly let go of the hurt and step out of the pain.
One: Maybe then you will truly let go of the hurt and step out of the pain.
That’s what forgiveness is all about,
not just speaking the words, but actually letting go of the situation.
It doesn’t mean that you will have to let the hurt happen to you
over and over again;
it means that you will lay it down.
You will have learned something about yourself
as well as the one who hurt you.
Two: You mean, I’m supposed to learn something from all of this?
One: Absolutely.
Two: You mean, I’m supposed to learn something from all of this?
One: Absolutely.
Do you think God retains God’s disappointment over you
when you fail and fall short?
God forgives, wipes the slate clean, gives another chance,
time and time again.
That’s what God wants us to do: to live lives of forgiving love.
Two: But it’s not that easy, you know.
One: God is with you. You will always have help with this.
Two: You’re sure of that? Really sure?
One: Without a doubt!
Two: But it’s not that easy, you know.
One: God is with you. You will always have help with this.
Two: You’re sure of that? Really sure?
One: Without a doubt!
— Nancy C. Townley, posted on Ministry Matters website.
For more worship resources related to this text, or other texts for September 11, 2011 (the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost), click on Proper 19A in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.
