Give Up?
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
58 Vignettes For Cycle B
Theme:
We give up too easily, especially with things that are spiritual.
Summary:
Two disciples are talking. One of them is thinking about leaving Jesus and the other one, Judas, tries to talk him out of it. But who makes the better choice?
Playing Time
3 1/2 minutes
Setting
The Holy Land
Props
None
Costumes
Disciples of Jesus
Time
The time of Jesus
Cast
MESHULLAM -- a disciple
JUDAS -- his friend
JUDAS: (ENTERS ALONG WITH MESHULLAM) Settle down.
MESHULLAM: I can't stand it any longer.
JUDAS: What is it? What's bothering you?
MESHULLAM: I'm leaving.
JUDAS: Oh, no, you're not. You told me you would stay with Jesus.
MESHULLAM: I can't accept some of the things he says.
JUDAS: Oh, that last thing he said about eating his flesh -- is that it?
MESHULLAM: Yes, that's exactly it.
JUDAS: Your trouble is you're trying to understand it.
MESHULLAM: Of course I'm trying to understand it. I'm one of his disciples.
JUDAS: I told you when we started following Jesus not to listen to him.
MESHULLAM: I remember you said that, but I thought you were just joking.
JUDAS: I was not joking. I never joke. This is serious. If Jesus is going to be the Messiah and save our nation from the Romans then it's up to people like us to do it. He's a teacher, a dreamer -- you can't expect him to save anyone, can you?
MESHULLAM: He says he will.
JUDAS: Just talk. All people who claim to be the Messiah will talk like that.
MESHULLAM: I believed him at first. But now ...
JUDAS: You started listening to him. That was your first mistake.
MESHULLAM: I used to think his teaching was wonderful. Life-changing.
JUDAS: Listen to me. I'm the one who has the plan. I'm the one who's in charge of the money, aren't I?
MESHULLAM: Yes. You do have all the money.
JUDAS: Well, then I'm the one you should be listening to, right?
MESHULLAM: All right, then, what's your plan?
JUDAS: It's not complicated. All we have to do is use the money we have to pay the people we need. We can pick up some extra money whenever we need it by feeding some information to the officials. They're always ready to pay for information. I know some of the high officials and they said they're sympathetic to our cause. They want to get out from under Rome's rule too.
MESHULLAM: In other words I can just act like a disciple. I don't have to really believe any of the difficult things.
JUDAS: That's right. Jesus himself said we should be as wise as serpents but as innocent as doves.
MESHULLAM: I don't know.
JUDAS: Come on. What do you have to go back to?
MESHULLAM: My family.
JUDAS: Jesus said that if we're not willing to give up our families, then we're not worth following him.
MESHULLAM: For a guy who doesn't listen to him, you quote him a lot.
JUDAS: I listen selectively. I remember what will help our cause.
MESHULLAM: I don't think I can do it.
JUDAS: You can't just quit. Remember what I told you, you're in this until the end.
MESHULLAM: Well, I'm quitting.
JUDAS: Oh, no! You're staying. I need your help.
MESHULLAM: You don't need my help. Your plan seems like a good one, I just want to go home.
JUDAS: Okay, leave then. When Jesus comes into his kingdom I'll be a high official. I'll be the power behind the throne. And where will you be?
MESHULLAM: I'll be home. Good-bye, Judas. (HE EXITS)
JUDAS: Loser. (HE EXITS)
We give up too easily, especially with things that are spiritual.
Summary:
Two disciples are talking. One of them is thinking about leaving Jesus and the other one, Judas, tries to talk him out of it. But who makes the better choice?
Playing Time
3 1/2 minutes
Setting
The Holy Land
Props
None
Costumes
Disciples of Jesus
Time
The time of Jesus
Cast
MESHULLAM -- a disciple
JUDAS -- his friend
JUDAS: (ENTERS ALONG WITH MESHULLAM) Settle down.
MESHULLAM: I can't stand it any longer.
JUDAS: What is it? What's bothering you?
MESHULLAM: I'm leaving.
JUDAS: Oh, no, you're not. You told me you would stay with Jesus.
MESHULLAM: I can't accept some of the things he says.
JUDAS: Oh, that last thing he said about eating his flesh -- is that it?
MESHULLAM: Yes, that's exactly it.
JUDAS: Your trouble is you're trying to understand it.
MESHULLAM: Of course I'm trying to understand it. I'm one of his disciples.
JUDAS: I told you when we started following Jesus not to listen to him.
MESHULLAM: I remember you said that, but I thought you were just joking.
JUDAS: I was not joking. I never joke. This is serious. If Jesus is going to be the Messiah and save our nation from the Romans then it's up to people like us to do it. He's a teacher, a dreamer -- you can't expect him to save anyone, can you?
MESHULLAM: He says he will.
JUDAS: Just talk. All people who claim to be the Messiah will talk like that.
MESHULLAM: I believed him at first. But now ...
JUDAS: You started listening to him. That was your first mistake.
MESHULLAM: I used to think his teaching was wonderful. Life-changing.
JUDAS: Listen to me. I'm the one who has the plan. I'm the one who's in charge of the money, aren't I?
MESHULLAM: Yes. You do have all the money.
JUDAS: Well, then I'm the one you should be listening to, right?
MESHULLAM: All right, then, what's your plan?
JUDAS: It's not complicated. All we have to do is use the money we have to pay the people we need. We can pick up some extra money whenever we need it by feeding some information to the officials. They're always ready to pay for information. I know some of the high officials and they said they're sympathetic to our cause. They want to get out from under Rome's rule too.
MESHULLAM: In other words I can just act like a disciple. I don't have to really believe any of the difficult things.
JUDAS: That's right. Jesus himself said we should be as wise as serpents but as innocent as doves.
MESHULLAM: I don't know.
JUDAS: Come on. What do you have to go back to?
MESHULLAM: My family.
JUDAS: Jesus said that if we're not willing to give up our families, then we're not worth following him.
MESHULLAM: For a guy who doesn't listen to him, you quote him a lot.
JUDAS: I listen selectively. I remember what will help our cause.
MESHULLAM: I don't think I can do it.
JUDAS: You can't just quit. Remember what I told you, you're in this until the end.
MESHULLAM: Well, I'm quitting.
JUDAS: Oh, no! You're staying. I need your help.
MESHULLAM: You don't need my help. Your plan seems like a good one, I just want to go home.
JUDAS: Okay, leave then. When Jesus comes into his kingdom I'll be a high official. I'll be the power behind the throne. And where will you be?
MESHULLAM: I'll be home. Good-bye, Judas. (HE EXITS)
JUDAS: Loser. (HE EXITS)
