You Gotta Have Some Angel in You
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April 20, 2019A Lectio Drama
Concept:
Two angels wait to meet Mary Magdalen at the tomb, giving her the news of Christ’s resurrection and preparing her to bring the Good News to the apostles.
Cast:
Angel Gabe
Angel Ray
Mary Magdalen
Setting:
Chapter room in partial darkness. A big (cardboard) rock stands in the center.
In silence, a flashlight shines on the rock, revealing two angels in bright clothing (yellow dungarees, bright shirts etc and tap shoes) tiptoeing towards the tomb. They begin to roll back the rock, making more and more noise with their feet. Cymbals for dramatic effect. Inside is revealed a bed with messed sheets and towels. Angels silently begin to make the bed, straightening the sheet, folding the towel. They sit, one at each end of the bed and wait. Ray gets antsy, beginning to rattle his shoes; Gabe signs for him to be quiet and wait. Lights go on. Ray jumps to his feet and points:
R: I see Mary coming, she’s coming!
G: Shhhh! Cool it, Ray, just wait.
Ray sits down and they watch Mary approaching. C begins to play “You seek the Lord” softly. Mary (in long-haired wig and suitable clothing) carries a basket and walks mournfully from Chapter room doors on lower level. She sees that the rock is rolled away and stops abruptly, peering towards the tomb. She bends over and looks closer, does a double-take. All at once, Angels jump up and music gets louder. They sing “You seek the Lord, he is not here” then go into tap dance, periodically breaking into song at “The Lord yet lives, he is not dead” and “And you yourselves will see him soon” and “And let glad alleluia’s ring in praise of Christ, the risen King.” Mary falls back in shock, dropping her basket and its contents. Throughout the dance, she gets progressively more agitated, ending up on the floor in the fetal position, quivering. Angels do not notice until after the finale.
R: Hey Gabe, do you think we overdid it?
G: Oh dear…you know we angels can be a bit overwhelming.
R: What shall we do?
G: Tone it down, Ray.
R: TONE IT DOWN? But Jesus Christ is risen from the dead! Alleluia! (impromptu dance)
G: I don’t mean tone down the message, but tone down the presentation, modify the style, restrain yourself! The thing is, these mortals are a bit slow on the uptake. Remember what happened when the Lord spoke to his disciples about his death, telling them that he was to be handed over, mocked, tortured and killed, and then rise on the third day?
R: They didn’t get it.
G: They were totally flummoxed.
R: It went right over their heads. Yeah, I see what you mean – but how can I not be myself?
G: Now Ray, remember you had that undercover assignment a couple of centuries back with Tobias and Sarah. No-one guessed that you were an angel of God. You were very restrained.
R: Restrained…yeah! No bright clothing, no song and dance…it was hard for me, Gabe. I think you’re better than me at this kind of job. Like that time not long ago with the other Mary. She didn’t end up catatonic.
G: It’s true, but then that Mary was different. She looked me right in the eye. I felt my legs turn to jelly. I have to admit, Ray, I was a bit…star-struck actually.
R: There’s no-one like Mary.
G: There’s no-one like Mary.
(Dreamy silence for a moment, then…)
G: Well, with this Mary we have to go gently.
R: Go gently, ok…
Music resumes for one verse but very slowly and softly, fading out again when the dialogue gets underway. Angels tiptoe toward Mary, coming down to lower level and Ray kneels beside her.
R: Mary, it’s ok, don’t be afraid.
They lift her to her feet and the three of them sit together on the step. Gabe hands her a handkerchief.
G: Mary, you came to see Jesus, didn’t you?
(M nods and blows her nose)
G: We have good news for you. He has been raised from the dead. He is not here in the tomb any more.
R: He’s alive, Mary! Do you understand?
M: Um…who…who are you?
G: We are angels of God. I am Gabriel, and this is Raphael (ra-fa-yel).
R: Raphael (ray-feel) if you prefer.
G: I thought you didn’t like that…
R: Yeah, it used to really bother me, but now I don’t mind so much. It sounds…cuddlier.
M: Well you know, I…(covers her face in embarrassment)
G: Go ahead, Mary, if you have a question, I’ll be happy to answer you.
R: It’s alright, ask anything…
M: Um, well, it’s just that I always imagined angels having…um…wings…
(Angels laugh)
G: Yes, many people expect that. It’s a common stereotype.
R: That’s why its good that people see us sometimes, to sets things straight. They think they know all about how things work in heaven…that you need wings to get around, that there’s a dress code, that everyone plays an instrument…
G: Steady on, Ray, lets not make too much of a paradigm shift just now. One revelation at a time. So Mary, do you think you might be ready to take this message to the apostles of Jesus, to tell them what you saw and heard, to let them know that Jesus is alive?
M: I, well…to be honest I’m at a loss for words. I don’t know how I would begin to articulate it…
R: OK, well we can help you there!
He leaps up to the upper level and Gabe follows, helping Mary up. Music resumes in the background.
R: To be an evangelist…
G: That’s what we’re asking you to do, Mary.
R: …you gotta have some ANGEL in you!
They link arms and the dance resumes, slowly, so that Mary can learn, but then faster and louder. In due course, they separate and Mary leads the dance out of the Chapter room.
End.
Image: J Kirk Richards
