Preparing Upper Rooms And Hearts

Four of the women who were disciples of Jesus prepare the upper room for the celebration of the Passover.

Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, speak of their feelings of hopefulness for the days ahead, along with nagging concerns of what might lie ahead. And Martha challenges herself, and us, to prepare hearts and minds for the good part.

Cast:  4 females

• Mary the mother of Jesus
• Mary Magdalene
• Mary the sister of Lazarus
• Martha the sister of Lazarus

Bible Reference:  Matthew 26:17-19

Set:  bare

Lighting: standard

Sound:     wireless mics if available

Song:  none

SFX: none

Costumes: standard

Props:

• broom, dust cloth, items of trash

Special Instructions:   none

Time: 8

Sample of script: 

(Mary enters the stage, looking around.)

MARY:
Where are they?
As usual, I am the only one here.
Amazing!

The great throngs of people attending the triumphal entry into the city, shouting:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest!”

But that was then, and this is now.
And not one has seen fit to spend time preparing the Passover table!

(She looks around in dismay.)
Just look at this place… It is dusty…

(She picks up a broom and sweeps at some dirt.)
Those who attended the last celebration here have long since departed.

(She picks up litter.)
Too bad they hadn’t the decency to clean up after themselves.

It’s the way of this next generation… that’s what it is!
Birthed into privilege, grown up believing the world owes them a living, and that idleness is their birthright!

(She looks up at the sun.)
It will soon be mid-afternoon, and the Teacher will be coming with His disciples, expecting to find preparations complete for the Passover feast.

(A noise offstage catches Mary’s attention. Mary Magdalene enters.)

MAGDALENE:
Mother Mary, are you here alone?

MARY:
(Glancing around) Look around you. Do you see anyone else here?
And I am not your mother.

MAGDALENE:
No, you are not my mother, but you are the mother of my Savior.

MARY:
Yes, I was that. However, I now serve as a disciple and am fine with being referred to simply as Mary the disciple.

MAGDALENE:
That is practical but also problematic. Among the many women who serve as the Teacher’s disciples, there are several who carry the name Mary… for example, Mary, the sister of Lazarus.

MARY:
Yes, and… Mary, the mother of James…

MAGDALENE:
Mary Salome.

MARY:
And yourself—Mary of Magdala… and each can be identified in that manner. So there is no problem.

MAGDALENE:
Except in your case… and that is why it seems appropriate that you be referred to as Mother Mary.

MARY:
I was the mother of the Christ child… that was in the past.
I am now, as you and many others are, a disciple—a learner, a student of the Teacher, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

And so it is that I am, and will continue to be, Mary, the disciple.

But more importantly, we stand here debating matters unimportant while neglecting the fact that preparations for the Passover feast will not be accomplished without our efforts.

MAGDALENE:
Is there only the two of us?

MARY:
(Gesturing around) Look about you… Do you see others coming to our assistance?

(Mary and Martha of Bethany hurry onto the stage.)

MAGDALENE:
Yes, Mary, actually I do. Welcome, Martha and Mary of Bethany!

MARY:
Finally!
Now then, you are all aware of the hour and the work to be done…
Perhaps we might all work toward making this upper room appropriately prepared?

(Mary moves to an upstage location where she quietly cleans and dusts.)

MARY BETH:
The mother of Jesus seems distressed.

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