Here’s a
readers’ theatre setting of Mark 10: 35-45, the gospel reading for Proper 24 B
(Ordinary 29 B) – the 21st Sunday after Pentecost. It is set for three readers.
Readers’ Theatre: Mark
10: 35-45
One: James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to
Jesus and said,
Two: Teacher, we want you to do us a favor.
Three: What is your request?
Two: When you sit on your glorious throne,
we want to sit in places of honor
next to you,
one on your right and the other on
your left.
Three: You don’t know what you are asking!
Are you able to drink from the
bitter cup of suffering
I am about to drink?
I am about to drink?
Are you able to be baptized with the
baptism of suffering
I must be baptized with?”
I must be baptized with?”
Two: Oh yes, we are able!
Three: You will indeed drink from my bitter cup
and be baptized with my baptism of
suffering.
But I have no right to say who will
sit on my right or my left.
God has prepared those places for
the ones he has chosen.
One: When the ten other disciples heard what
James and John had asked,
they were indignant.
So Jesus called them together and
said,
Three You know that the rulers in this world lord
it over their people,
and officials flaunt their authority
over those under them.
But among you it will be different.
Whoever wants to be a leader among
you must be your servant,
and whoever wants to be first among
you
must be the slave of everyone else.
For even the Son of Man came not to
be served
but to serve others
and to give his life as a ransom for
many.
