Readers' Theatre: Hebrews 1: 1-4; 2: 5-12

Here’s a readers’ theatre setting of Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12, the epistle reading for Proper 22 B (Ordinary 27 B) – the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost.  It is set for two voices.

Readers’ Theatre: Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways

to our ancestors through the prophets.

And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son.

God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance,

and through the Son he created the universe.

The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God,

and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command.

When he had cleansed us from our sins,

he sat down in the place of honor

at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels,

just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.

And furthermore,

it is not angels who will control the future world we are talking about.

For in one place the Scriptures say,

“What are mere mortals that you should think about them,
or a son of man that you should care for him?
Yet you made them only a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You gave them authority over all things.”

Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out.

But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority.

What we do see is Jesus,

who was given a position “a little lower than the angels”;

and because he suffered death for us,

he is now “crowned with glory and honor.”

Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.

God, for whom and through whom everything was made,

chose to bring many children into glory.

And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering,

a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.

So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father.

That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. 

For he said to God,

“I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.
I will praise you among your assembled people.”