He Has Done Great Things
Drama
SUNDAY MORNING READERS' THEATER
Cast: Two women, MARY and ELIZABETH
Length:
7 minutes
There are two stools on stage. ELIZABETH is standing by her stool, looking toward the entrance. After a moment MARY enters and runs toward her. They embrace.
ELIZABETH: Mary! It's so wonderful to see you!
MARY: Oh, Elizabeth! It's been so long. I've missed you!
ELIZABETH: Here, sit down beside me.
MARY and ELIZABETH sit.
ELIZABETH: (Surprised, holding her stomach) Oh! Mary! (With a look of comprehension) Now I understand!
MARY: What? What do you understand?
ELIZABETH: As soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
MARY: Yes, he is blessed.
ELIZABETH: And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.
MARY: The Lord has been good to me.
ELIZABETH: But wasn't it hard for you?
MARY: Hard? What do you mean?
ELIZABETH: To make such a commitment. To agree to do such a difficult thing.
MARY: (Slowly) Is it so difficult to obey God?
ELIZABETH: He's asking you to give up everything for the sake of this child.
MARY: (Firmly) My child.
ELIZABETH: Yes, yes. I know what you mean: any child is worth the sacrifice. But this one ... He will have more than his share of sorrows. And so will you.
MARY: (Sighing) That's true. I understand some of what is to happen. But you also ...
ELIZABETH: Yes. I also carry a child who is destined to do great things. And to suffer great pain. But I am old. I will be dead and gone before he reaches that age. It's different for you. You are young. You will be at his side as he experiences the rejection and humiliation that is his lot.
MARY: But I will also be at his side as he brings hope and joy to many. He will care for them - heal the sick, the lame and the blind and fill the hungry with good things. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.
ELIZABETH: Even so, much of the future will be unknown. If what we already know is to be seems so frightening, what other surprises might life have in store for you?
MARY: (Slowly) It may be bad, very bad. But I will trust in my Lord.
ELIZABETH: I wish I had your courage. Doesn't the future frighten you? You, too, might undergo persecution. You might lose everything you have. They might even take away your husband, and then where would you be?
MARY: That would be very painful, it's true.
ELIZABETH: How would you earn a living, if he were gone?
MARY: I don't know.
ELIZABETH: You might have to beg on the streets. (Pause) And what if they threw you in jail? Many
women without means are there even now. And it's not pleasant for them.
MARY: I know.
ELIZABETH: And when you grow old, who will care for you? If they kill your son, who will you have?
MARY: I don't know, Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH: Perhaps before you take on this ... responsibility, you might consider making some sort of an ... arrangement with God.
MARY: An arrangement? What sort of an arrangement?
ELIZABETH: You know. Some sort of a bargain, where you would be assured that everything will turn out all right.
MARY: A bargain? With God?
ELIZABETH: Sure! You're doing so much for him. Why shouldn't he do something for you? It's not as if he didn't have the power.
MARY: No. Of course he has the power.
ELIZABETH: He might do it if you asked him. Obviously, he favors you greatly.
MARY: But why should he do this for me, and not for others?
ELIZABETH: Because you deserve it, if anyone does. You have been faithful to him, in every way. You have done what he wanted, always - no questions asked. You have been true when everyone else was hedging their bets, getting away with as much as they dared. If that ever even occurred to you, you thrust it out of your mind. Now all you want is a little reassurance, isn't that right? A little protection for the Creator of the universe, the Mighty One of Israel. Is that too much to ask?
MARY: (Slowly) I think ... yes. It is. For me to ask for a peaceful future, or even to know what will happen to me, is to tell God I don't trust him.
ELIZABETH: I don't think it's as bad as all that.
MARY: Yes, it is, Elizabeth. Yes, it is! Don't you see? God sets life up like this on purpose. We don't know the future just so that we have an area of our lives that we must completely put into his hands. There's nothing we can do to assure our well-being. Nothing! If we knew how it was going to turn out, we would start trying to fix it - change something here, influence something there. And that would be like saying we don't think his future is good enough. That he made a mistake with our lives.
ELIZABETH: I wouldn't go that far ...
MARY: No, you would. Everyone would. The temptation would be too great. We all think we know what's best for ourselves. And think that God could use a little help getting organized.
ELIZABETH: (Embarrassed) Yes. I guess that's true. But only because the future's so ... so dangerous!
MARY: Yes, it is dangerous. But if God wants you to go through great danger, for his sake, wouldn't you?
ELIZABETH: I guess I would. But it would be hard.
MARY: I know. Very hard. It is for me. But that's what makes it so valuable. And so exciting.
ELIZABETH: (Dubiously) Exciting?
MARY: Yes. That makes life an adventure. We all like a little excitement now and then.
ELIZABETH: Now and then.
MARY: We even go out looking for it when life gets too dull. Just meeting the future without flinching seems to me like excitement enough.
ELIZABETH: So this doesn't bother you?
MARY: I didn't say that. Of course it bothers me. But think what this means! God has a plan for our lives. He leads us into danger - and out again. If we trust in him, and go where he takes us, we're doing exactly what pleases him the most.
ELIZABETH: But we might get killed!
MARY: So? That's the last great adventure, isn't it?
ELIZABETH: I would agree there. (Pause) Are you telling me you can be happy knowing what you know of your future?
MARY: Deliriously happy! My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
ELIZABETH: And with good reason!
MARY: For the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
ELIZABETH: Amen!
The two women get up from their stools, bow to the audience and leave the stage.
Length:
7 minutes
There are two stools on stage. ELIZABETH is standing by her stool, looking toward the entrance. After a moment MARY enters and runs toward her. They embrace.
ELIZABETH: Mary! It's so wonderful to see you!
MARY: Oh, Elizabeth! It's been so long. I've missed you!
ELIZABETH: Here, sit down beside me.
MARY and ELIZABETH sit.
ELIZABETH: (Surprised, holding her stomach) Oh! Mary! (With a look of comprehension) Now I understand!
MARY: What? What do you understand?
ELIZABETH: As soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
MARY: Yes, he is blessed.
ELIZABETH: And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.
MARY: The Lord has been good to me.
ELIZABETH: But wasn't it hard for you?
MARY: Hard? What do you mean?
ELIZABETH: To make such a commitment. To agree to do such a difficult thing.
MARY: (Slowly) Is it so difficult to obey God?
ELIZABETH: He's asking you to give up everything for the sake of this child.
MARY: (Firmly) My child.
ELIZABETH: Yes, yes. I know what you mean: any child is worth the sacrifice. But this one ... He will have more than his share of sorrows. And so will you.
MARY: (Sighing) That's true. I understand some of what is to happen. But you also ...
ELIZABETH: Yes. I also carry a child who is destined to do great things. And to suffer great pain. But I am old. I will be dead and gone before he reaches that age. It's different for you. You are young. You will be at his side as he experiences the rejection and humiliation that is his lot.
MARY: But I will also be at his side as he brings hope and joy to many. He will care for them - heal the sick, the lame and the blind and fill the hungry with good things. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.
ELIZABETH: Even so, much of the future will be unknown. If what we already know is to be seems so frightening, what other surprises might life have in store for you?
MARY: (Slowly) It may be bad, very bad. But I will trust in my Lord.
ELIZABETH: I wish I had your courage. Doesn't the future frighten you? You, too, might undergo persecution. You might lose everything you have. They might even take away your husband, and then where would you be?
MARY: That would be very painful, it's true.
ELIZABETH: How would you earn a living, if he were gone?
MARY: I don't know.
ELIZABETH: You might have to beg on the streets. (Pause) And what if they threw you in jail? Many
women without means are there even now. And it's not pleasant for them.
MARY: I know.
ELIZABETH: And when you grow old, who will care for you? If they kill your son, who will you have?
MARY: I don't know, Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH: Perhaps before you take on this ... responsibility, you might consider making some sort of an ... arrangement with God.
MARY: An arrangement? What sort of an arrangement?
ELIZABETH: You know. Some sort of a bargain, where you would be assured that everything will turn out all right.
MARY: A bargain? With God?
ELIZABETH: Sure! You're doing so much for him. Why shouldn't he do something for you? It's not as if he didn't have the power.
MARY: No. Of course he has the power.
ELIZABETH: He might do it if you asked him. Obviously, he favors you greatly.
MARY: But why should he do this for me, and not for others?
ELIZABETH: Because you deserve it, if anyone does. You have been faithful to him, in every way. You have done what he wanted, always - no questions asked. You have been true when everyone else was hedging their bets, getting away with as much as they dared. If that ever even occurred to you, you thrust it out of your mind. Now all you want is a little reassurance, isn't that right? A little protection for the Creator of the universe, the Mighty One of Israel. Is that too much to ask?
MARY: (Slowly) I think ... yes. It is. For me to ask for a peaceful future, or even to know what will happen to me, is to tell God I don't trust him.
ELIZABETH: I don't think it's as bad as all that.
MARY: Yes, it is, Elizabeth. Yes, it is! Don't you see? God sets life up like this on purpose. We don't know the future just so that we have an area of our lives that we must completely put into his hands. There's nothing we can do to assure our well-being. Nothing! If we knew how it was going to turn out, we would start trying to fix it - change something here, influence something there. And that would be like saying we don't think his future is good enough. That he made a mistake with our lives.
ELIZABETH: I wouldn't go that far ...
MARY: No, you would. Everyone would. The temptation would be too great. We all think we know what's best for ourselves. And think that God could use a little help getting organized.
ELIZABETH: (Embarrassed) Yes. I guess that's true. But only because the future's so ... so dangerous!
MARY: Yes, it is dangerous. But if God wants you to go through great danger, for his sake, wouldn't you?
ELIZABETH: I guess I would. But it would be hard.
MARY: I know. Very hard. It is for me. But that's what makes it so valuable. And so exciting.
ELIZABETH: (Dubiously) Exciting?
MARY: Yes. That makes life an adventure. We all like a little excitement now and then.
ELIZABETH: Now and then.
MARY: We even go out looking for it when life gets too dull. Just meeting the future without flinching seems to me like excitement enough.
ELIZABETH: So this doesn't bother you?
MARY: I didn't say that. Of course it bothers me. But think what this means! God has a plan for our lives. He leads us into danger - and out again. If we trust in him, and go where he takes us, we're doing exactly what pleases him the most.
ELIZABETH: But we might get killed!
MARY: So? That's the last great adventure, isn't it?
ELIZABETH: I would agree there. (Pause) Are you telling me you can be happy knowing what you know of your future?
MARY: Deliriously happy! My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
ELIZABETH: And with good reason!
MARY: For the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
ELIZABETH: Amen!
The two women get up from their stools, bow to the audience and leave the stage.
