Ash Wednesday

DUST

A thin

layer fits

foot to

footprint,

revives

a moment

we don’t

remember

but can’t

forget.

– Father Leonard Cochran. O.P.

Holy Week drama: a woman at the cross

A TESTIMONY: A WOMAN AT THE CROSS
By Denise Day Spencer

NARRATOR: “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And…Jesus cried with a loud voice saying…’My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?’…and Jesus cried out…and yielded up his spirit…

“There were many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed him from Galilee, ministering to him.” *

WOMAN: (stands holding one or more long pieces of cloth) I was a follower of Jesus, but not until the very end. But you see, I had no idea it was the end. My name is unimportant. You won’t find me in your Bible, because I’m not there. But I was there–when Jesus came to town.

Holy Week drama: John the Baptist

A TESTIMONY: JOHN THE BAPTIST
By Denise Day Spencer

NARRATOR: The word of God came to John in the desert. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. But when John rebuked Herod the king, (looking at JOHN) Herod locked John up in prison. *

JOHN: I always knew I was not the Messiah. But I thought Jesus was. It was my job to be his messenger, to point the people to him. I got their attention, too, for my sermon was powerful.

Holy Week drama: the dinner hostess

A TESTIMONY: THE DINNER HOSTESS
By Denise Day Spencer

NARRATOR: One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. *

HANNAH: I wasn’t sure why my husband invited Jesus to dinner. Simon was a Pharisee, and the Pharisees were having problems with Jesus. I could tell Simon thought Jesus was potentially dangerous, and yet he was intrigued by him. You see, the Pharisees were doing their best to preserve our nation. We were the chosen ones, God’s people. We had to be different from all the nations around us. But Jesus had a way of turning their teachings upside-down every time.

Holy Week drama: Matthew

A TESTIMONY: MATTHEW
By Denise Day Spencer

NARRATOR: Jesus…saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. *

MATTHEW: Somehow it came easily for me, following Jesus. I had heard of his miracles before I ever met him. By the time he called me to follow him, I guess I already wanted to believe.

Holy Week drama: Mary Magdalene

I’d like to post five short dramas that I wrote for our school’s Holy Week services last year. If you’re looking for one or more simple, yet meaningful dramas for this Lenten season, feel free to use these.

A TESTIMONY: MARY MAGDALENE
By Denise Day Spencer

NARRATOR:     Jesus…appeared to Mary Magdalene, (looking at MARY) out of whom he had cast seven demons. *

MARY: Demons, they called them. You might call it something different today. I can’t even tell you when or how it started. It’s all such a jumble in my mind.