A Fish Story
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
56 Vignettes For Cycle C
Theme
What is so compelling about the words of Jesus that changes people's lives?
Summary
Joash, a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, questions Peter, Jesus' disciple, about the miraculous catch of fish and is persuaded to investigate.
Playing Time
4 minutes
Setting
Anywhere a Pharisee could be alone with Peter
Props
None
Costumes
Hebrew of Jesus' time
Time
The time of Jesus
Cast
PETER -- the fisherman
JOASH -- a member of the Sanhedrin
JOASH: And what time of the day did this happen?
PETER: In the afternoon, sir.
JOASH: I'll listen to no more of your lies. Either you decide to tell me the truth, or I'll have you flogged.
PETER: It is the truth, sir.
JOASH: Nonsense! No one fishes in the afternoon in the Sea of Galilee!
PETER: It was in the afternoon, sir.
JOASH: Even I know you can't catch anything in the afternoon.
PETER: That's what I said, sir.
JOASH: Said? Said to whom?
PETER: To Jesus, of course. He is the one who told us to fish.
JOASH: And what did he say to you after that?
PETER: Nothing. Jesus seldom needed to repeat himself. We did as we were told. You would have, too.
JOASH: It is not your place to tell me what my reaction would be to a wandering preacher.
PETER: Yes, sir.
JOASH: Well, what did he tell you to do, exactly?
PETER: After he was finished preaching he said, "Let down your nets for a catch." No, no. I remember, now. He said, "Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch."
JOASH: "Put out into deep water." Hmmm. Was he already in the boat?
PETER: Yes, sir.
JOASH: And what was he doing in the boat? Did he used to be a fisherman?
PETER: No, sir. He was carpenter. He had gotten in the boat so he could teach the people.
JOASH: So he could teach the fishermen?
PETER: No, not the fishermen. Well, yes, the fishermen listened too, but, well, it was like this -- there were so many people that he got this boat so that he could sit and teach the people.
JOASH: And the people stayed on shore as he preached.
PETER: That's right.
JOASH: But you were in the boat?
PETER: Yes, sir, I was, along with my cousins James and John.
JOASH: And are you a carpenter, too?
PETER: No, sir, we're fishermen.
JOASH: Aha! Then if you were all fishermen, why in the world would you fish during the day? You knew you wouldn't catch any fish.
PETER: Well, you're right about that. That's what I thought, too. Why waste our time, I thought.
JOASH: Why didn't you say something?
PETER: I did. I said, "Master, we have worked hard all night, but because you say to do it I will let the nets down."
JOASH: Just because he said so, you would do it?
PETER: I sure did. You don't know him or you wouldn't say that.
JOASH: Don't tell me what I would or would not say or do!
PETER: Sorry, sir.
JOASH: Now, tell me, why were you so susceptible to this man's words?
PETER: Like I say, when he says, "Do something," you just do it ... or at least I do. There is something about the way he speaks -- it's -- well, it's authoritative. Do you know what I mean?
JOASH: I understand the meaning. Now, tell me: why did he not teach standing? This is very interesting.
PETER: I couldn't say, really. I guess I never thought much about it except maybe he has the authority, so why does he need to stand and preach? He is just as effective sitting.
JOASH: Very unorthodox.
PETER: But very effective.
JOASH: Oh, is that so?
PETER: Yes, sir. It is.
JOASH: And then you caught an unprecedented amount of fish, is that correct?
PETER: If you mean more than I ever caught before, you'd be right. Why, I couldn't haul them in alone. I thought the net would break. It didn't. That was a miracle, too.
JOASH: You are not to decide when a miracle has been performed. Is that understood?
PETER: I understand the meaning ... sir.
JOASH: And then what happened?
PETER: Well, I signaled for the guys in the other boat to come help me haul it in.
JOASH: And they did?
PETER: Yes, sir, they did. And there were so many fish that it almost sunk the other boat. That was a miracle.
JOASH: I warned you.
PETER: I know, sir, but it was an, ah, unprecedented happening, you'll have to admit.
JOASH: Yes, it was.
PETER: And then, and this is the best part, I told him, "Leave me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."
JOASH: That much is true.
PETER: If you had been there you would have said the same.
JOASH: I don't think so.
PETER: Maybe you're right.
JOASH: And what did this carpenter/preacher say to that?
PETER: This is the best thing. I haven't figured it out yet. He said, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."
JOASH: And you don't understand that?
PETER: No, I don't.
JOASH: Well, it's pretty simple. He means that from now on when you tell others about him they will believe you and follow him.
PETER: Oh, thanks for explaining that to me. That's what I did. I believed that he is the Messiah. I left everything and I am following him.
JOASH: You did? Hmmm. When is he preaching again?
PETER: Tonight, why?
JOASH: Why? Because I would like to hear him. Merely to gather more evidence, you understand.
PETER: Oh, yes, sir, I understand very well. (THEY BEGIN TO EXIT) It works. It really works.
What is so compelling about the words of Jesus that changes people's lives?
Summary
Joash, a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, questions Peter, Jesus' disciple, about the miraculous catch of fish and is persuaded to investigate.
Playing Time
4 minutes
Setting
Anywhere a Pharisee could be alone with Peter
Props
None
Costumes
Hebrew of Jesus' time
Time
The time of Jesus
Cast
PETER -- the fisherman
JOASH -- a member of the Sanhedrin
JOASH: And what time of the day did this happen?
PETER: In the afternoon, sir.
JOASH: I'll listen to no more of your lies. Either you decide to tell me the truth, or I'll have you flogged.
PETER: It is the truth, sir.
JOASH: Nonsense! No one fishes in the afternoon in the Sea of Galilee!
PETER: It was in the afternoon, sir.
JOASH: Even I know you can't catch anything in the afternoon.
PETER: That's what I said, sir.
JOASH: Said? Said to whom?
PETER: To Jesus, of course. He is the one who told us to fish.
JOASH: And what did he say to you after that?
PETER: Nothing. Jesus seldom needed to repeat himself. We did as we were told. You would have, too.
JOASH: It is not your place to tell me what my reaction would be to a wandering preacher.
PETER: Yes, sir.
JOASH: Well, what did he tell you to do, exactly?
PETER: After he was finished preaching he said, "Let down your nets for a catch." No, no. I remember, now. He said, "Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch."
JOASH: "Put out into deep water." Hmmm. Was he already in the boat?
PETER: Yes, sir.
JOASH: And what was he doing in the boat? Did he used to be a fisherman?
PETER: No, sir. He was carpenter. He had gotten in the boat so he could teach the people.
JOASH: So he could teach the fishermen?
PETER: No, not the fishermen. Well, yes, the fishermen listened too, but, well, it was like this -- there were so many people that he got this boat so that he could sit and teach the people.
JOASH: And the people stayed on shore as he preached.
PETER: That's right.
JOASH: But you were in the boat?
PETER: Yes, sir, I was, along with my cousins James and John.
JOASH: And are you a carpenter, too?
PETER: No, sir, we're fishermen.
JOASH: Aha! Then if you were all fishermen, why in the world would you fish during the day? You knew you wouldn't catch any fish.
PETER: Well, you're right about that. That's what I thought, too. Why waste our time, I thought.
JOASH: Why didn't you say something?
PETER: I did. I said, "Master, we have worked hard all night, but because you say to do it I will let the nets down."
JOASH: Just because he said so, you would do it?
PETER: I sure did. You don't know him or you wouldn't say that.
JOASH: Don't tell me what I would or would not say or do!
PETER: Sorry, sir.
JOASH: Now, tell me, why were you so susceptible to this man's words?
PETER: Like I say, when he says, "Do something," you just do it ... or at least I do. There is something about the way he speaks -- it's -- well, it's authoritative. Do you know what I mean?
JOASH: I understand the meaning. Now, tell me: why did he not teach standing? This is very interesting.
PETER: I couldn't say, really. I guess I never thought much about it except maybe he has the authority, so why does he need to stand and preach? He is just as effective sitting.
JOASH: Very unorthodox.
PETER: But very effective.
JOASH: Oh, is that so?
PETER: Yes, sir. It is.
JOASH: And then you caught an unprecedented amount of fish, is that correct?
PETER: If you mean more than I ever caught before, you'd be right. Why, I couldn't haul them in alone. I thought the net would break. It didn't. That was a miracle, too.
JOASH: You are not to decide when a miracle has been performed. Is that understood?
PETER: I understand the meaning ... sir.
JOASH: And then what happened?
PETER: Well, I signaled for the guys in the other boat to come help me haul it in.
JOASH: And they did?
PETER: Yes, sir, they did. And there were so many fish that it almost sunk the other boat. That was a miracle.
JOASH: I warned you.
PETER: I know, sir, but it was an, ah, unprecedented happening, you'll have to admit.
JOASH: Yes, it was.
PETER: And then, and this is the best part, I told him, "Leave me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."
JOASH: That much is true.
PETER: If you had been there you would have said the same.
JOASH: I don't think so.
PETER: Maybe you're right.
JOASH: And what did this carpenter/preacher say to that?
PETER: This is the best thing. I haven't figured it out yet. He said, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."
JOASH: And you don't understand that?
PETER: No, I don't.
JOASH: Well, it's pretty simple. He means that from now on when you tell others about him they will believe you and follow him.
PETER: Oh, thanks for explaining that to me. That's what I did. I believed that he is the Messiah. I left everything and I am following him.
JOASH: You did? Hmmm. When is he preaching again?
PETER: Tonight, why?
JOASH: Why? Because I would like to hear him. Merely to gather more evidence, you understand.
PETER: Oh, yes, sir, I understand very well. (THEY BEGIN TO EXIT) It works. It really works.
