MARY ----- (enters running, crosses to opposite exit shouting) Jesus is coming! Jesus is coming! Lazarus, Martha, Jesus is coming!
LAZARUS -- (enters with open arms, crosses to Jesus) Jesus, welcome back!
JESUS ---- (enters with open arms) Lazarus, my friend. It's good to see you. (hugs)
LAZARUS -- Welcome to my home. It's so good to see you.
MARY ----- (enters backward, pulling Martha) Come quickly! Jesus is here!
MARTHA --- (enters, sewing costume) I haven't finished sewing these costumes yet. I'm not ready.
MARY ----- (runs to Jesus with open arms) Oh, Jesus, you always stay away too long.
JESUS ---- Mary, you are always a ray of sunshine. How nice to see you again. (hugs) And Martha, I see you're busy as always. (hugs)
MARTHA --- The house is a mess. I hope you'll forgive us. If we'd known you were coming we could have.... (exits sewing)
LAZARUS -- Martha, please! His time is too valuable for us to bother him with the mundane details of housekeeping. (to Jesus, points to chair) Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. Please, sit. Tell us about your ministry. (sits on floor)
MARY ----- (sits on floor) Yes, please! Tells us more about the kingdom of God.
JESUS ---- (sits) What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.
MARY ----- (pause) Who's line is it?
LAZARUS -- It's Martha line. Where is Martha?
DIRECTOR - (enters through audience, approaches stage) Cut! Cut! Stop! People, can't we get all the way through this rehearsal without an interruption? Where is Martha? Martha?!
MARTHA --- (enters sewing costume) Did someone call me?
DIRECTOR - Yes, you missed your entrance, AGAIN!
MARTHA --- I'm sorry. I was just sewing this costume. (holds it up) How do you like it so far? I thought the piping around the collar really added something, don't you?
DIRECTOR - Martha! I've told you three times, Jesus' costume is just fine. Oh, and by the way, your line on your first entrance is (looks at script) "I'm right in the middle of preparing dinner." not (imitating) "I haven't finished sewing these costumes yet. I'm not ready."
MARTHA --- Well, I'm NOT ready. I think Jesus' costume would look much better with piping around the collar.
DIRECTOR - (impatient and emphatic) Martha, forget the costume and get back into character. We have only a few minutes before curtain time. Let's not forget what's important.
MARTHA --- Oh, alright.
DIRECTOR - (backs away) Let's take it from Jesus' monologue.
MARTHA --- (sewing) So, I'm supposed to be offstage now, right?
DIRECTOR - Martha!
MARTHA --- (exiting sewing) I'm going. I'm going.
JESUS ---- What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.
MARTHA --- (enters sewing, distracted) Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? (bites thread) Tell her to help me!
JESUS ---- Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not....
MARTHA --- (to Mary) Mary, can you turn toward the audience a little more? (turns Mary's shoulders)
JESUS ---- ....be taken away from her.
DIRECTOR - Cut! Cut! Stop! Martha, what are you doing?!
MARTHA --- Well, I worked extra hard to make Mary's costume look pretty and I was just having her turn so the audience will be able to see....
DIRECTOR - Martha!
MARTHA --- What? I was just...
DIRECTOR - Martha!
MARTHA --- Alright, I'm listening.
DIRECTOR - Jesus, say your line to Martha again. Martha, listen to this.
MARTHA --- Shall I go offstage again?
DIRECTOR - No, this is not the rehearsal. I want you to hear the words of Jesus. (points to Jesus) Go.
JESUS ---- Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.
DIRECTOR - Are you listening, Martha?
MARTHA --- To what?
DIRECTOR - (to Jesus) Say it again.
JESUS ---- Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.
DIRECTOR - Do I need to have him say the line again?
MARTHA --- No. You made your point.
DIRECTOR - And what's my point?
MARTHA --- It's the words of Jesus that are important, not the silly costumes. (tosses costume into audience) I'm sorry. I'm just like the Martha in the Bible, aren't I?
DIRECTOR - (smiles) That's why I cast you in the part.
MARTHA --- (heartfelt) The words of Jesus are really powerful, aren't they?
JESUS ---- She has chosen what is right.
DIRECTOR - Alright, everybody, we don't have time for another run through, but I think the audience will get the message. (exiting) Clear the stage. (all exit talking among themselves)
Luke 10:38-42 (NKJV)
38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.
40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
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