(A three-act play)
When reading or listening about the life of Jesus, the greatest story ever told, I keep wondering what the conversations would be like. This three-act play is meant to do just that. For its historical context, I refer to the Four Gospels of the New Testament. The characters, therefore, are real, but the conversations are merely fictional. They are just the product of my wild imagination.)
By Rey Moreno
***ACT I – THE WORD MADE FLESH***
“If for the time being he must be obscure and ridiculous, that is because it is the lot of the artist to suffer obscurity and ridicule until the day when he is revealed in his true powers and the scoffers and mockers fall silent.” – J. M. Coetzee, Youth (2002).
Inside the house of Joseph and Mary. A heated argument is going on.
Mary: I am pregnant!
Joseph: Whoa, we just got married! How could it happen so fast? Did you have a man before me?
Mary: No, it’s not that way. It’s difficult to explain. And if I try, you may think I’m crazy.
Joseph: You have to try Mary! What will people think? I’ll become a laughing stock. You know that honour matters a lot in our community. There’ll be a call for justice and it always ends in someone being killed. And that won’t be me!
Mary: I know Joseph but…
Suddenly, there’s a knock at the door.
Joseph: Who might that be that’s disturbing the peace at this hour? I’ll go and see and we’ll continue this argument again.
Gabriel: Hello, Joseph. I’m here to explain to you why Mary is pregnant.
Joseph: Who the hell are you? If you’re the cause of this trouble, you better run now before I kill you!
Gabriel: No need to be violent, Joseph. I’m an angel sent by God. Mary’s pregnancy is the result of divine conception.
Joseph: What do you take me for, a fool! You, two, sure concocted a nice story and you have to use God’s name in vain to hide the result of your secret affair!
Gabriel: I am really an angel. Here, check this out and don’t be shocked. Behold the wings of an angel!
Joseph: What a dubious trick! Let me touch and pull them.
Gabriel: Ouch! Don’t pull them that hard; you’re hurting me!
Joseph: Aha, you’re just faking it! Let me get my sword and cut them off. See if you can bring them back.
Gabriel: Wait! Let me call God instead so you will believe.
A thunder and a lightning occur at the same time…
God: Joseph, I am Yahweh. What Gabriel tells you is all true. I give you and Mary my only Son for you to raise and take care of until He is ready to execute my plan. Now, be a good father and listen to Gabriel for further instructions. Don’t be afraid. I am with you always!
Gabriel: That’s something, huh. You’re one of the very, very select few who heard God’s voice. Listen, and listen well. You have to take Mary out of Nazareth immediately because once she will have the bump, her relatives can do the math and may have a lot of questions. Don’t come back until Jesus – and that’s what you will name Him – is grown up. Don’t say a word about divine conception. Before you can say these two words, you will turn mute. You will never be heard that much again. But you and Mary will be blessed with more children in the human way. And in the future, people will venerate you for being such a good father to Jesus. You will never see or hear from me again. But God and I will be watching you. Remember, not a word about Jesus as the Son of God. He will reveal Himself to the world when He is ready.
Jesus turns thirty years old and meets His cousin John in the Desert of Judea.
John: I see the presence of the Lord in you. You are the Lamb of God who will cleanse our spirit. I have prepared the way. Look at the people. They come to be baptized. Please take this mantle from my hands.
Jesus: No, John. The hour hasn’t come. Please continue what you’re doing and baptize me as well.
John: I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Now, go forth and fulfill your mission!
Jesus is fasting for forty days in the desert. Sensing the growing physical weakness of Jesus, the devil sets three traps for Jesus to win Him over.
Devil: I know you’re the Son of God, yet I can see the pang of hunger is getting to you at this moment. Why don’t you turn this stone into bread?
Jesus: Man does not live by bread alone; but through the words of God, the spirit is nourished.
Devil: You have the silver tongue in you. It is to be expected. Come fly with me to the highest point of the temple. Throw yourself down and see if your angels will come to rescue you.
Jesus: Once you tested Father with the faith of Job. We cannot allow you again to get the best of us. Never again!
Devil: Don’t be such a sore loser. Come with me to the top of the mountain. Do you see all these earthly kingdoms? You may be the Son of God, but as a man, you don’t have as much power here. I can give you that if you will turn your back on God just as I did.
Jesus: The Father says no matter how powerful you are you will remain a second fiddle. Know your place!
***END OF ACT I***
21 January 2021