The Widow Of Nain
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
56 Vignettes For Cycle C
Theme
Death is conquered by Jesus.
Summary
The widow of Nain has lost her only son, and as the funeral passes by Jesus stops the procession and resurrects the son. Flute accompaniment with dancers.
Playing Time
6 minutes
Setting
The Holy Land
Props
A board on which to carry "dead" son
Costumes
Peasant, of the time of Jesus, with lots of black
Time
The time of Jesus
Cast
WIDOW
SON
JESUS
MOURNERS -- dancers
(MUSIC -- FUNERAL MUSIC UNDER POETRY AND DANCING. DANCE -- PROCESSION AND MOURNING UNDER POETRY)
WIDOW: (WAILING) Death! Darkest dark! She-e-e-ol!
Loneliness! Darkest despair -- death.
Black emptiness stretching forth -- gulping time.
Darkest abyss of endless falling -- falling -- falling.
(MUSIC AND PROCESSION -- INTERLUDE)
WIDOW: My husband had been gone these thirteen years and now my son is dead, too! My husband died slowly over a number of years but my son -- my son seemed healthy up until this morning. He couldn't get up this morning -- he just lay on his bed and moaned and that didn't last long. And then all of a sudden he was silent. I was near the door getting him a drink of water and he didn't say anything more. He was just silent. I turned and he was dead.
(MUSIC AND PROCESSION)
WIDOW: My son was a comfort to me. He would talk to me. We'd sit on the roof in the cool of the evening and listen to the sounds of the town and we would talk of many things as we looked at God's beautiful heaven. Oh, of course I won't have anyone to care for me now, but it's not that I'll miss. No, I'll miss him talking to me. He loved God's world. We used to walk just at the edge of town and listen and watch the birds and the sheep. And now he's gone -- taken from me at the height of his life. He never got to enjoy a wife and family -- he talked of having children and how he'd teach them God's ways. Now what can he teach? Who can he teach? The children of the city will miss his stories. He used to sit and tell them the stories from the prophets. He was a scholar and was always interested in learning and in teaching others. He's gone now. Now he lies there and none to take his place. None to teach. None to wonder at God's world. None to talk to me. My son!
(MUSIC)
JESUS: (ENTERS WITH DISCIPLES AND MULTITUDE. HE SPEAKS TO WIDOW) Dry your tears now. (HE CROSSES TO COFFIN AND TOUCHES IT) Young man, I say to you, arise!
YOUNG MAN: Praise you, Lord. I was dead. I was sick. And now I'm well. I'm alive.
JESUS: Now, here is your mother.
WIDOW: My son! It's true, you are alive. Praise be to God!
CROWD: (AD LIBBING) A great prophet has arisen among us! God has visited His people. God cares for His people. Hallelujah. Praise be to God.
(MUSIC -- PRAISE -- JUBILANT DANCING)
Death is conquered by Jesus.
Summary
The widow of Nain has lost her only son, and as the funeral passes by Jesus stops the procession and resurrects the son. Flute accompaniment with dancers.
Playing Time
6 minutes
Setting
The Holy Land
Props
A board on which to carry "dead" son
Costumes
Peasant, of the time of Jesus, with lots of black
Time
The time of Jesus
Cast
WIDOW
SON
JESUS
MOURNERS -- dancers
(MUSIC -- FUNERAL MUSIC UNDER POETRY AND DANCING. DANCE -- PROCESSION AND MOURNING UNDER POETRY)
WIDOW: (WAILING) Death! Darkest dark! She-e-e-ol!
Loneliness! Darkest despair -- death.
Black emptiness stretching forth -- gulping time.
Darkest abyss of endless falling -- falling -- falling.
(MUSIC AND PROCESSION -- INTERLUDE)
WIDOW: My husband had been gone these thirteen years and now my son is dead, too! My husband died slowly over a number of years but my son -- my son seemed healthy up until this morning. He couldn't get up this morning -- he just lay on his bed and moaned and that didn't last long. And then all of a sudden he was silent. I was near the door getting him a drink of water and he didn't say anything more. He was just silent. I turned and he was dead.
(MUSIC AND PROCESSION)
WIDOW: My son was a comfort to me. He would talk to me. We'd sit on the roof in the cool of the evening and listen to the sounds of the town and we would talk of many things as we looked at God's beautiful heaven. Oh, of course I won't have anyone to care for me now, but it's not that I'll miss. No, I'll miss him talking to me. He loved God's world. We used to walk just at the edge of town and listen and watch the birds and the sheep. And now he's gone -- taken from me at the height of his life. He never got to enjoy a wife and family -- he talked of having children and how he'd teach them God's ways. Now what can he teach? Who can he teach? The children of the city will miss his stories. He used to sit and tell them the stories from the prophets. He was a scholar and was always interested in learning and in teaching others. He's gone now. Now he lies there and none to take his place. None to teach. None to wonder at God's world. None to talk to me. My son!
(MUSIC)
JESUS: (ENTERS WITH DISCIPLES AND MULTITUDE. HE SPEAKS TO WIDOW) Dry your tears now. (HE CROSSES TO COFFIN AND TOUCHES IT) Young man, I say to you, arise!
YOUNG MAN: Praise you, Lord. I was dead. I was sick. And now I'm well. I'm alive.
JESUS: Now, here is your mother.
WIDOW: My son! It's true, you are alive. Praise be to God!
CROWD: (AD LIBBING) A great prophet has arisen among us! God has visited His people. God cares for His people. Hallelujah. Praise be to God.
(MUSIC -- PRAISE -- JUBILANT DANCING)
