'Wow, I Just Won The Lottery ... I Think!'
Drama
Thespian Theology
Lent/Easter
Thespian Theological Thoughts
During the worst of the apartheid nightmare in South Africa, Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu was asked by a reporter if he was afraid for his life, since he was an outspoken opponent of apartheid.
"Not at all," Tutu replied. "I know that God has called me to work to bring about the end of apartheid. That's my job. God's job is to protect me. I trust him. If God wants this to happen (the end of apartheid), he will keep me from harm."
We don't know whether Matthias the lottery winner had doubts and fears. But he was called by God to be an apostle, to spread the Good News of Jesus.
You and I are called to spread the Good News as well, to a world which will probably not crucify us ... literally, that is. But in a world hostile to the gospel of Christ, the prospect of being an apostle can be intimidating.
Fear not; trust in God.
Cast
Narrator
Matthias
Peter
John
Voice of Jesus (offstage)
Props/Costumes
Chair
(Narrator is at podium, stage left. Matthias is asleep on the floor, center stage)
Narrator: It's the morning after the Big Lottery. No, not the Megabucks, the lottery that Simon-the-Fisherman-Peter held to determine who would take Judas' place as one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. (Points toward Matthias) Behold our lucky lottery winner. It seems that Matthias went out and celebrated last night with a few of his buddies -- and just now, he's waking up to the harsh reality that he is now an "official" apostle.
Matthias: (Holds his stomach) Man, I shouldn't have had that second jalapeno pizza. My gut is killing me! (Stumbles over to chair downstage right, and sits) So ... now I'm an apostle. What next? Pete didn't exactly give me a job description; he just kinda said, "Tag, you're it!" What do I do now?
(Peter enters stage left)
Peter: Maybe you start by staying away from Jorge's Jalapeno House, Matt. His pizzas'll kill you before the Sanhedrin has a chance to try!
Matthias: (Holds stomach again) Ooog! Thanks for the advice, Peter. Hey, what did you say about the Sanhedrin? Why would they want to kill me?
Peter: Well, look what they did to Jesus. You're his apostle now. Do you think they're gonna invite you over for pizza and beer and the Monday night football game?
Matthias: Well, gee, I never really thought about that. So you're saying that being an apostle of Jesus could get me in some trouble with the Powers That Be?
Peter: The powers that think they be, Matt. Jesus has the real power, and he promised it to us, remember?
Matthias: Yeah, but --
Peter: Yeah --Êbut what, Matt?
Matthias: But ... well, gee, Peter, I didn't know I was puttin' my skinny little neck in a noose when I signed up for this here apostle thing!
Peter: I didn't mean to frighten you, Matthias. But I do want you to know that being Jesus' apostle isn't just a big fat honor. There's blood, sweat, and tears, too.
Matthias: I was afraid of that. So, what do I do now?
(John enters stage left)
John: You start praying, Matthias.
Matthias: John ... man, am I glad to see you! (Stands and goes to John and hugs him) You were the one who stood by the Lord to the end. Weren't you frightened?
John: I was scared to death, Matthias. But at the same time, I had this incredible boldness in me.
Matthias: Boldness?
John: Yes. Boldness, in knowing that if I asked anything according to his will, God would hear me and grant my request. So I just kept praying for strength and courage.
Matthias: And God gave you the courage to stay there while Jesus died on that cross, and all those Roman soldiers intimidated, menaced, and took names?
John: He certainly did.
Matthias: Wow, I wish I had that kind of strength! Actually, I wish that God would take me out of this whole situation.
John: Pray, Matthias!
Matthias: Ya mean if I pray hard enough, God'll hear me and get me out of this mess?
John: I mean that if you ask anything according to his will, God will hear you and give you your request.
Peter: And that may not mean (Makes quote signs with his fingers) "getting you out of this mess,"ÊMatthias --Êbut I'm pretty sure it will mean granting you the strength and courage to get through it. And you know that Jesus has chosen you to be his apostle -- remember, you won the lottery -- so you have to believe that he wants you to remain alive long enough to spread his Good News.
Voice of Jesus: (Offstage) Father, I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.
Matthias: Lord, is that you?
Voice of Jesus: It is I. Be not afraid, Matthias, but trust me. I have chosen you, and you are mine.
Peter: Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered ... let the wicked perish before God.
John: But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God.
Peter/John/Matthias: Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Our God is a God of salvation, and to God the Lord, belongs escape from death. (Take bows and exit)
During the worst of the apartheid nightmare in South Africa, Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu was asked by a reporter if he was afraid for his life, since he was an outspoken opponent of apartheid.
"Not at all," Tutu replied. "I know that God has called me to work to bring about the end of apartheid. That's my job. God's job is to protect me. I trust him. If God wants this to happen (the end of apartheid), he will keep me from harm."
We don't know whether Matthias the lottery winner had doubts and fears. But he was called by God to be an apostle, to spread the Good News of Jesus.
You and I are called to spread the Good News as well, to a world which will probably not crucify us ... literally, that is. But in a world hostile to the gospel of Christ, the prospect of being an apostle can be intimidating.
Fear not; trust in God.
Cast
Narrator
Matthias
Peter
John
Voice of Jesus (offstage)
Props/Costumes
Chair
(Narrator is at podium, stage left. Matthias is asleep on the floor, center stage)
Narrator: It's the morning after the Big Lottery. No, not the Megabucks, the lottery that Simon-the-Fisherman-Peter held to determine who would take Judas' place as one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. (Points toward Matthias) Behold our lucky lottery winner. It seems that Matthias went out and celebrated last night with a few of his buddies -- and just now, he's waking up to the harsh reality that he is now an "official" apostle.
Matthias: (Holds his stomach) Man, I shouldn't have had that second jalapeno pizza. My gut is killing me! (Stumbles over to chair downstage right, and sits) So ... now I'm an apostle. What next? Pete didn't exactly give me a job description; he just kinda said, "Tag, you're it!" What do I do now?
(Peter enters stage left)
Peter: Maybe you start by staying away from Jorge's Jalapeno House, Matt. His pizzas'll kill you before the Sanhedrin has a chance to try!
Matthias: (Holds stomach again) Ooog! Thanks for the advice, Peter. Hey, what did you say about the Sanhedrin? Why would they want to kill me?
Peter: Well, look what they did to Jesus. You're his apostle now. Do you think they're gonna invite you over for pizza and beer and the Monday night football game?
Matthias: Well, gee, I never really thought about that. So you're saying that being an apostle of Jesus could get me in some trouble with the Powers That Be?
Peter: The powers that think they be, Matt. Jesus has the real power, and he promised it to us, remember?
Matthias: Yeah, but --
Peter: Yeah --Êbut what, Matt?
Matthias: But ... well, gee, Peter, I didn't know I was puttin' my skinny little neck in a noose when I signed up for this here apostle thing!
Peter: I didn't mean to frighten you, Matthias. But I do want you to know that being Jesus' apostle isn't just a big fat honor. There's blood, sweat, and tears, too.
Matthias: I was afraid of that. So, what do I do now?
(John enters stage left)
John: You start praying, Matthias.
Matthias: John ... man, am I glad to see you! (Stands and goes to John and hugs him) You were the one who stood by the Lord to the end. Weren't you frightened?
John: I was scared to death, Matthias. But at the same time, I had this incredible boldness in me.
Matthias: Boldness?
John: Yes. Boldness, in knowing that if I asked anything according to his will, God would hear me and grant my request. So I just kept praying for strength and courage.
Matthias: And God gave you the courage to stay there while Jesus died on that cross, and all those Roman soldiers intimidated, menaced, and took names?
John: He certainly did.
Matthias: Wow, I wish I had that kind of strength! Actually, I wish that God would take me out of this whole situation.
John: Pray, Matthias!
Matthias: Ya mean if I pray hard enough, God'll hear me and get me out of this mess?
John: I mean that if you ask anything according to his will, God will hear you and give you your request.
Peter: And that may not mean (Makes quote signs with his fingers) "getting you out of this mess,"ÊMatthias --Êbut I'm pretty sure it will mean granting you the strength and courage to get through it. And you know that Jesus has chosen you to be his apostle -- remember, you won the lottery -- so you have to believe that he wants you to remain alive long enough to spread his Good News.
Voice of Jesus: (Offstage) Father, I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.
Matthias: Lord, is that you?
Voice of Jesus: It is I. Be not afraid, Matthias, but trust me. I have chosen you, and you are mine.
Peter: Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered ... let the wicked perish before God.
John: But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God.
Peter/John/Matthias: Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Our God is a God of salvation, and to God the Lord, belongs escape from death. (Take bows and exit)
