U R Fair I C
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
58 Vignettes For Cycle B
Theme
Pharisees need to be shocked out of their ridiculous religiosity.
Summary
Fairisee has appointed himself lawmaker, judge, and prosecuting attorney and the accused is Jesus. Scribe is supposed to respond in the usual manner but he upsets the entire procedure by thinking.
Playing Time
3 1/2 minutes
Setting
The home of Fairisee
Props
None
Costumes
Fairisee, scribe -- robes appropriate for their station
Time
The time of Jesus
Cast
FAIRISEE -- a judge
SCRIBE
JESUS
FAIRISEE: (ENTERS ALONG WITH SCRIBE) Next case.
SCRIBE: The next case before this high Pharisaic tribunal is the church versus Jesus.
FAIRISEE: Is the accused present?
JESUS: (RISING) Yes, your honor.
FAIRISEE: What are the charges?
SCRIBE: The charges are that Jesus of Nazareth and his disciples are not fasting.
FAIRISEE: A weighty charge. Who brings these charges?
SCRIBE: You do.
FAIRISEE: I do? Oh, yes, I do.
SCRIBE: How many times do you fast, just as an example?
FAIRISEE: And an excellent example, too. I fast two times a week, as the law demands.
SCRIBE: What law are you referring to?
FAIRISEE: The excellent Pharisaic law, of course. That's fair.
SCRIBE: I see.
FAIRISEE: Yes, of course. And how many times do you, Jesus, and your disciples fast?
JESUS: Once a year.
FAIRISEE: Once a year?
SCRIBE: Only once a year!
FAIRISEE: Of all the unrighteous nonsense. It can hardly compare with what I do, can it?
SCRIBE: Hardly. Once a year. Ha!
FAIRISEE: That comparison is fair.
SCRIBE: I see.
FAIRISEE: Very fair.
SCRIBE: I see.
FAIRISEE: And by what law do you only fast once a year?
JESUS: The law of Moses. We fast on the Day of Atonement.
SCRIBE: That is the law. For it is written.
FAIRISEE: But we have supplemented the law with extra laws that are added to the law to enhance it and to allow practitioners of these more inclusive laws to draw closer to holiness. That's fair.
SCRIBE: What?
FAIRISEE: What do you mean "what"?
SCRIBE: I mean, uh ...
FAIRISEE: You're not supposed to say, "what." When I say that something is fair you are supposed to respond, "I see."
SCRIBE: I know.
FAIRISEE: Then why did you say, "what"?
SCRIBE: Uh, because I didn't understand what you said. When I say, "I see," it indicates that I understand. In this case I didn't understand, so I said, "what."
FAIRISEE: You don't have to understand. You just have to respond.
SCRIBE: I see.
FAIRISEE: Good.
SCRIBE: I see.
FAIRISEE: That's fair.
SCRIBE: What is?
FAIRISEE: Will you give the proper response?
SCRIBE: Oh, sorry. I guess I was thinking.
FAIRISEE: Well, stop it. Thinking is dangerous and often a waste of time. That's fair.
SCRIBE: Why?
FAIRISEE: Stop talking and start responding.
SCRIBE: I see.
FAIRISEE: Now, that's better. That's the correct response.
SCRIBE: I see.
FAIRISEE: Good. Now, let's get back to the accused. Jesus only fasts once a year by his own admission. I fast twice a week by my own spotless record. Which is more holy?
SCRIBE: I see.
FAIRISEE: Not yet.
SCRIBE: Sorry.
FAIRISEE: Who is more holy?
SCRIBE: Jesus.
FAIRISEE: That's wrong.
SCRIBE: I see.
FAIRISEE: I am most holy. It's quite plain.
SCRIBE: No, it isn't.
FAIRISEE: What are you saying?
SCRIBE: I'm saying it's not plain at all. God gave the law to Moses that states that we must fast but once a year. Why should you add anything to God's law?
FAIRISEE: Because by doing these extra things it makes you more holy.
SCRIBE: Who says?
FAIRISEE: I say.
SCRIBE: And who made you the judge?
FAIRISEE: I did.
SCRIBE: God is our lawgiver. I'd rather He be my judge. That's fair.
FAIRISEE: I see. What am I saying?
JESUS: This happens every time people begin to think about what they're saying and doing.
SCRIBE: That's fair.
FAIRISEE: I see.
Pharisees need to be shocked out of their ridiculous religiosity.
Summary
Fairisee has appointed himself lawmaker, judge, and prosecuting attorney and the accused is Jesus. Scribe is supposed to respond in the usual manner but he upsets the entire procedure by thinking.
Playing Time
3 1/2 minutes
Setting
The home of Fairisee
Props
None
Costumes
Fairisee, scribe -- robes appropriate for their station
Time
The time of Jesus
Cast
FAIRISEE -- a judge
SCRIBE
JESUS
FAIRISEE: (ENTERS ALONG WITH SCRIBE) Next case.
SCRIBE: The next case before this high Pharisaic tribunal is the church versus Jesus.
FAIRISEE: Is the accused present?
JESUS: (RISING) Yes, your honor.
FAIRISEE: What are the charges?
SCRIBE: The charges are that Jesus of Nazareth and his disciples are not fasting.
FAIRISEE: A weighty charge. Who brings these charges?
SCRIBE: You do.
FAIRISEE: I do? Oh, yes, I do.
SCRIBE: How many times do you fast, just as an example?
FAIRISEE: And an excellent example, too. I fast two times a week, as the law demands.
SCRIBE: What law are you referring to?
FAIRISEE: The excellent Pharisaic law, of course. That's fair.
SCRIBE: I see.
FAIRISEE: Yes, of course. And how many times do you, Jesus, and your disciples fast?
JESUS: Once a year.
FAIRISEE: Once a year?
SCRIBE: Only once a year!
FAIRISEE: Of all the unrighteous nonsense. It can hardly compare with what I do, can it?
SCRIBE: Hardly. Once a year. Ha!
FAIRISEE: That comparison is fair.
SCRIBE: I see.
FAIRISEE: Very fair.
SCRIBE: I see.
FAIRISEE: And by what law do you only fast once a year?
JESUS: The law of Moses. We fast on the Day of Atonement.
SCRIBE: That is the law. For it is written.
FAIRISEE: But we have supplemented the law with extra laws that are added to the law to enhance it and to allow practitioners of these more inclusive laws to draw closer to holiness. That's fair.
SCRIBE: What?
FAIRISEE: What do you mean "what"?
SCRIBE: I mean, uh ...
FAIRISEE: You're not supposed to say, "what." When I say that something is fair you are supposed to respond, "I see."
SCRIBE: I know.
FAIRISEE: Then why did you say, "what"?
SCRIBE: Uh, because I didn't understand what you said. When I say, "I see," it indicates that I understand. In this case I didn't understand, so I said, "what."
FAIRISEE: You don't have to understand. You just have to respond.
SCRIBE: I see.
FAIRISEE: Good.
SCRIBE: I see.
FAIRISEE: That's fair.
SCRIBE: What is?
FAIRISEE: Will you give the proper response?
SCRIBE: Oh, sorry. I guess I was thinking.
FAIRISEE: Well, stop it. Thinking is dangerous and often a waste of time. That's fair.
SCRIBE: Why?
FAIRISEE: Stop talking and start responding.
SCRIBE: I see.
FAIRISEE: Now, that's better. That's the correct response.
SCRIBE: I see.
FAIRISEE: Good. Now, let's get back to the accused. Jesus only fasts once a year by his own admission. I fast twice a week by my own spotless record. Which is more holy?
SCRIBE: I see.
FAIRISEE: Not yet.
SCRIBE: Sorry.
FAIRISEE: Who is more holy?
SCRIBE: Jesus.
FAIRISEE: That's wrong.
SCRIBE: I see.
FAIRISEE: I am most holy. It's quite plain.
SCRIBE: No, it isn't.
FAIRISEE: What are you saying?
SCRIBE: I'm saying it's not plain at all. God gave the law to Moses that states that we must fast but once a year. Why should you add anything to God's law?
FAIRISEE: Because by doing these extra things it makes you more holy.
SCRIBE: Who says?
FAIRISEE: I say.
SCRIBE: And who made you the judge?
FAIRISEE: I did.
SCRIBE: God is our lawgiver. I'd rather He be my judge. That's fair.
FAIRISEE: I see. What am I saying?
JESUS: This happens every time people begin to think about what they're saying and doing.
SCRIBE: That's fair.
FAIRISEE: I see.
