Talk Show I
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
56 Vignettes For Cycle C
Theme
Which is more important, religious duty or religious zeal, the doer or the worshiper?
Summary
A talk show with Martha and Mary going at it about which is right, religious duty or religious zeal. This sketch leads right into the Sermon.
Playing Time
3 minutes
Setting
A TV studio
Props
Microphone
Costumes
Dress appropriate for church
Time
The present
Cast
PHIL DENNEHY -- host
MARY
MARTHA -- her sister
LAZARUS -- their brother
DR. FITZNOUR -- an expert
(THERE IS A PANEL OF FOUR PEOPLE SEATED ON THE STAGE)
PHIL DENNEHY: (STANDING WITH MICROPHONE) Both these ladies spend time on their knees. Which one of these sisters is doing the worthwhile duty? Meet Mary. Mary spends time on her knees praying. And this is Mary's sister, Martha. Martha also spends time on her knees, but she is out in the kitchen scrubbing the floor. Also, today we have with us Martha and Mary's brother. Meet Lazarus. And this is Rev. Ames, their pastor. Also, meet Dr. Fitznour, a psychologist who specializes in family-related conflicts and stress. That's our show. Today we are going to delve into the intricate world of spirituality versus practicality. First, let's speak to Mary. Mary, how long have you known Christ?
MARY: For twelve years.
MARTHA: We both came to Christ at the same time, the entire family, Lazarus, too.
PHIL: Good, and so you're a religious family.
MARTHA: We sure are.
MARY: No, we're not.
PHIL: A conflict already. Help me out here.
LAZARUS: No conflict, Phil. We just think of our Christianity as a relationship with God, not a religious duty.
MARTHA: Speak for yourself, brother, dear.
LAZARUS: I was.
PHIL: So, Martha, you view your Christianity as more of a duty?
MARTHA: "It is better to obey than to sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22).
PHIL: So, you're saying that doing your duty, in a religious sense, is more important than giving time to prayer?
MARTHA: No, I'm not saying that. I pray while I work. Do I have to go to church to pray? No. I can get more done if I am working along, and when the Lord brings needs to my mind, I pray and just keep on doing what I'm supposed to do.
PHIL: I want to give Dr. Fitznour an opportunity to speak. Doctor, what is your opinion? Does religious duty come before religious zeal?
DR. FITZNOUR: Well, yes and no. In a recent study conducted by Berkeley University it was determined that eighty percent of all people who considered themselves religious stated that they thought of themselves as being unsuccessful. I think that religion is a state of mind anyway. (APPLAUSE) And religious thought, while relaxing in some cases, is mostly disruptive to the normal everyday workaday world. (APPLAUSE)
PHIL: Okay. Now, Mary, how do you reconcile the fact that you spend an hour or so praying each day and reading the Bible and on top of that you go to extra meetings at church, a women's prayer meeting, and church on Sunday?
MARY: That's just the minimum. When I get into prayer sometimes I pray longer than an hour. The time just seems to fly by. And then my prayer partner and I spend time on the phone praying for each other.
PHIL: And how often do you call each other?
MARY: Once a day.
PHIL: So, what is your estimate of your time spent in prayer each day?
MARTHA: I'll answer that one. Five hours a day! That's what it is!
PHIL: Five hours a day! Mary?
MARY: Not quite that much. Probably only two hours a day.
MARTHA: She can't count either.
PHIL: So, Mary, you are saying that the two hours a day ...
MARTHA: It's five if it's a minute!
PHIL: ... that the two hours a day is worthwhile. In what ways?
MARY: In Isaiah it says that God was astonished that there was no one to intercede for the injustice in the world (Isaiah 59:15-16). I want to be one who intercedes for the unrighteous.
MARTHA: But Christ is making intercession for us. That's in Romans 8:27. Here, I'll read it to you. It says: "He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."
MARY: True, but we need to be doing our part too.
PHIL: What do you think, Doctor? Is the work of God dependent on the prayer of the saints?
DR. FITZNOUR: Well, yes and no. I should think God, if he is all-powerful as Christians claim, would be able to handle everything there is to handle. (APPLAUSE) But, on the other hand, there was a study that came out of the University of California that showed that 69 percent of all people interviewed who considered themselves to be born again said they thought prayer furthered the kingdom of God. Now, as to this family conflict. I would suggest that Mary and Martha seek some counseling to solve their differences. At some time in the near future the problem between them will become overwhelming and obstruct all the good that might be accomplished by these two women.
PHIL: In other words, Doctor, you are saying that this family conflict is at a crisis point.
DR. FITZNOUR: Well, yes and no. If Martha believes that Mary should be sharing in some of the work around the house and ...
MARTHA: That's a good idea.
MARY: I do my share of the work. It's just that spending time with the Lord comes first, that's all.
MARTHA: If I don't do the work, it doesn't get done.
PHIL: I would call this a crisis point. I'm going to our studio audience. You, sir, what view is correct? (AN AUDIENCE MEMBER REACTS TO THE QUESTION) We haven't heard from Rev. Ames yet. Rev. Ames, do you favor one of these views over the other? Who is right, Mary or Martha? (HANDS THE MICROPHONE TO THE PASTOR, WHO CONTINUES WITH THE SERMON)
Which is more important, religious duty or religious zeal, the doer or the worshiper?
Summary
A talk show with Martha and Mary going at it about which is right, religious duty or religious zeal. This sketch leads right into the Sermon.
Playing Time
3 minutes
Setting
A TV studio
Props
Microphone
Costumes
Dress appropriate for church
Time
The present
Cast
PHIL DENNEHY -- host
MARY
MARTHA -- her sister
LAZARUS -- their brother
DR. FITZNOUR -- an expert
(THERE IS A PANEL OF FOUR PEOPLE SEATED ON THE STAGE)
PHIL DENNEHY: (STANDING WITH MICROPHONE) Both these ladies spend time on their knees. Which one of these sisters is doing the worthwhile duty? Meet Mary. Mary spends time on her knees praying. And this is Mary's sister, Martha. Martha also spends time on her knees, but she is out in the kitchen scrubbing the floor. Also, today we have with us Martha and Mary's brother. Meet Lazarus. And this is Rev. Ames, their pastor. Also, meet Dr. Fitznour, a psychologist who specializes in family-related conflicts and stress. That's our show. Today we are going to delve into the intricate world of spirituality versus practicality. First, let's speak to Mary. Mary, how long have you known Christ?
MARY: For twelve years.
MARTHA: We both came to Christ at the same time, the entire family, Lazarus, too.
PHIL: Good, and so you're a religious family.
MARTHA: We sure are.
MARY: No, we're not.
PHIL: A conflict already. Help me out here.
LAZARUS: No conflict, Phil. We just think of our Christianity as a relationship with God, not a religious duty.
MARTHA: Speak for yourself, brother, dear.
LAZARUS: I was.
PHIL: So, Martha, you view your Christianity as more of a duty?
MARTHA: "It is better to obey than to sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22).
PHIL: So, you're saying that doing your duty, in a religious sense, is more important than giving time to prayer?
MARTHA: No, I'm not saying that. I pray while I work. Do I have to go to church to pray? No. I can get more done if I am working along, and when the Lord brings needs to my mind, I pray and just keep on doing what I'm supposed to do.
PHIL: I want to give Dr. Fitznour an opportunity to speak. Doctor, what is your opinion? Does religious duty come before religious zeal?
DR. FITZNOUR: Well, yes and no. In a recent study conducted by Berkeley University it was determined that eighty percent of all people who considered themselves religious stated that they thought of themselves as being unsuccessful. I think that religion is a state of mind anyway. (APPLAUSE) And religious thought, while relaxing in some cases, is mostly disruptive to the normal everyday workaday world. (APPLAUSE)
PHIL: Okay. Now, Mary, how do you reconcile the fact that you spend an hour or so praying each day and reading the Bible and on top of that you go to extra meetings at church, a women's prayer meeting, and church on Sunday?
MARY: That's just the minimum. When I get into prayer sometimes I pray longer than an hour. The time just seems to fly by. And then my prayer partner and I spend time on the phone praying for each other.
PHIL: And how often do you call each other?
MARY: Once a day.
PHIL: So, what is your estimate of your time spent in prayer each day?
MARTHA: I'll answer that one. Five hours a day! That's what it is!
PHIL: Five hours a day! Mary?
MARY: Not quite that much. Probably only two hours a day.
MARTHA: She can't count either.
PHIL: So, Mary, you are saying that the two hours a day ...
MARTHA: It's five if it's a minute!
PHIL: ... that the two hours a day is worthwhile. In what ways?
MARY: In Isaiah it says that God was astonished that there was no one to intercede for the injustice in the world (Isaiah 59:15-16). I want to be one who intercedes for the unrighteous.
MARTHA: But Christ is making intercession for us. That's in Romans 8:27. Here, I'll read it to you. It says: "He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."
MARY: True, but we need to be doing our part too.
PHIL: What do you think, Doctor? Is the work of God dependent on the prayer of the saints?
DR. FITZNOUR: Well, yes and no. I should think God, if he is all-powerful as Christians claim, would be able to handle everything there is to handle. (APPLAUSE) But, on the other hand, there was a study that came out of the University of California that showed that 69 percent of all people interviewed who considered themselves to be born again said they thought prayer furthered the kingdom of God. Now, as to this family conflict. I would suggest that Mary and Martha seek some counseling to solve their differences. At some time in the near future the problem between them will become overwhelming and obstruct all the good that might be accomplished by these two women.
PHIL: In other words, Doctor, you are saying that this family conflict is at a crisis point.
DR. FITZNOUR: Well, yes and no. If Martha believes that Mary should be sharing in some of the work around the house and ...
MARTHA: That's a good idea.
MARY: I do my share of the work. It's just that spending time with the Lord comes first, that's all.
MARTHA: If I don't do the work, it doesn't get done.
PHIL: I would call this a crisis point. I'm going to our studio audience. You, sir, what view is correct? (AN AUDIENCE MEMBER REACTS TO THE QUESTION) We haven't heard from Rev. Ames yet. Rev. Ames, do you favor one of these views over the other? Who is right, Mary or Martha? (HANDS THE MICROPHONE TO THE PASTOR, WHO CONTINUES WITH THE SERMON)
