This is Part of the Worship Series
Hard Sayings
Series Introduction
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4
WEEK THREE
Be Perfect
Text
Leviticus 24:17–20; Matthew 5:14–20, 38–48
Drama
(intended to introduce Scripture themes)
"AN EYE FOR AND EYE"
Narrator One
Narrator Two
Mr. Fang, a dentist who also plays Character A
Mr. Squint, an optician who also plays Character B
A Judge
This format, two narrators plus accompanying mime, is well-tried and is very reliable in buildings that are large enough to necessitate the use of a PA system. The "ping-pong" nature of the dialogue gives the sketch a secure structure that has pace and liveliness. This sketch is also interesting in that is based on a passage from the Sermon on the Mount that, at first sight, might look rather undramatic.
The scene opens in a courtroom. The two Narrators are dressed as lawyers; they stand downstage left and right, respectively. Mr. Fang and Mr. Squint are seated upstage center on either side of the Judge's chair. Fang is wearing an eyepatch; Squint's jaw is heavily bandaged. They both rise as the Judge enters. All three sit down.
Narrator One: Silence in the court.
Narrator Two: Silence!
Judge: Proceed.
Two: Mr. Fang, the dentist…
One: Your Honor.
Two: is hereby accused…
One: of disfiguring the smile of Mr. Squint, the optician…
Two: by the unnecessary removal…
One: of a prominent tooth.
Two: Justice, m'lord, justice!
Judge: Let justice be done.
Two: Mr Squint. [Squint steps forward with tongs and removes tooth from Fang]
One: Objection, m'lord.
Judge: Objection sustained.
One: The mistaken removal of the said tooth…
Two: was made by Mr. Fang,
One: on account of his vision having been previously impaired by the said Squint.
Two: Justice, m'lord, justice!
Judge: Let justice be done.
Two: Mr. Fang. [Fang steps forward and impairs Squint's vision]
One: Thus you have heard it said…
Two: an eye for an eye…
One: a tooth for a tooth…
Two: a nose for a nose…
One: and so on…
Two: and so forth.
One: But…
Two: No buts. There are no exceptions.
One: But…
Two: Aa! aa!
One: What about what Jesus says?
Two: What does he say?
One: He says, "Do not take revenge."
Two: Are you sure?
One: Yes. Look at this. [Producing paper from notes]
Two: Let me see. [Crosses stage] Good heavens! He's right. He does. He says… [Returns to his position]
One: If anyone strikes you on the right cheek…
[Fang and Squint, without their props, step forward as characters A and B. A (pantomime) strikes B on right cheek]
Two: turn to him the other one also. [A strikes B on left cheek. Pause. B kicks A hard on shin.]
One: Er, I'm sorry.
Two: [To B] To turn the other cheek…
One: and then to kick your adversary on the shin…
Two: is fulfilling the letter of the passage…
One: rather than the spirit. [B looks disconsolate]
Two: Do not resist one who is evil.
One: Quite categorically not.
Two: To continue.
One: You have heard it said…
Two: love your neighbor…[A and B exchange friendly glances over garden fence]
One: and hate your enemy. [They threaten each other with machine guns]
Two: But I say to you…
One: love your enemy. [B puts down gun]
Two: Do good to them that hate you. [B pulls out handkerchief and begins polishing A's gun]
One: Pray for those who persecute you. [B kneels]
Two: "Father, forgive them for they don't know what they're doing."
One: If you are to be seen ... [A and B sit down again]
Two: as the children of your Father in Heaven…
One: you must show the family likeness.
Two: For he makes the sun rise…
One: on the evil… [B gets up looking evil]
Two: and on the good. [A jumps up with beatific smile]
One: He sends rain on the just… [A has prudently brought an umbrella; opens it]
Two: and the unjust. [B steals the umbrella]
One: People think only in terms of justice. [The fudge steps forward and restores umbrella to A]
Two: But if you only love those who love you… [Indicating A and the Judge]
One: what's so good about that?
Two: God thinks supremely in terms of love.
[They invite B to join them under the umbrella]
[During this final section the three figures in the mime become a chorus of different voices, raising objections to the standard of love. The fudge has become voice C. They speak to the audience.]
A: But I find we're so different in temperament.
One: Love him.
C: You see, we just don't get along.
Two: Love him.
B: She and I have a completely different way of going about things.
One: Love her.
C: I find young people are so selfish.
Two: Love them.
B: I'll never forgive her for leaving me.
One: Forgive her; love her.
A: I find it very hard to believe those people are Christians.
Two: Love them.
B: They know all about the Bible, those people, but what they don't know...
One: Love them.
B: But... Two: No buts. There are no exceptions.
B: But...
One: Aa! aa!
Two: Be perfect...
One: as your heavenly Father...
Two: is perfect.
—from Lightning Sketches, Paul Burbridge and Murray Watts. London: Hodder and Houghton, 1981. Reproduced by permission of the publisher. Up to 5 copies may be made of the sketch for non-profit-making performances only, crediting the book, title, and publisher.
Sermon Summary
In this broad sweep from retribution to light on a hilltop, to righteousness that goes beyond the law's elite to being perfect, it is important to see Jesus as the hinge-pin. What went on before in the Old Testament and what is carried on in the New Testament has its locus in Christ. With his coming, we entered a new age. The kingdom of God, here and now, is about more than just obedience to the law. It's about obedience to Christ, who ushered in the new age of the kingdom. Christ came to fulfill the Old Testament law and take it to new heights in the Beatitudes.
Points to consider:
— The one who would be spit upon and insulted to his face, without saying a word, here encourages his disciples to turn the other cheek. — The one who owned nothing more than the clothes on his back, clothes which, at his trial, were stripped to expose his nakedness, entreats his disciples to bear the shame of an evil person's greed. — The one who would be forced by soldiers to carry his cross for what must have seemed like miles, pleads with his disciples to go the extra mile, even under the humiliation of being conscripted like a slave to do the bidding of the Roman authorities.
God exercises in redeeming his world. God is completing a work begun in Christ, and he's doing it in us, his followers.
"Let your light shine so people may see your good works and praise your Father in heaven" (5:20). |
Testimony
In response to the message and before intercession, invite one or two members of the congregation to testify about where they have been able to let their light shine or where they are struggling to let their light shine.
Prayer of Confession
Ruler of all that is and is to be, sensitize our sight, that we may see what really is and understand what ought to be. We confess that often we see only what we want to see. We complain about our vacations when thousands are cold and poverty-stricken. We speak of equal rights and justice for all but do not share the struggle for overcoming prejudice of race or nationality. We create technology but fail to control it. We enjoy the company of lively people but don't reach their loneliness.
You have given us life, O God, but we have not lived. You have called us to sing your song, and instead we have sung the message of the world. But here and now we admit our willfulness, we acknowledge our denial of your life, and we ask your forgiveness. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—from Prayers from Riverside, ed. Leo S. Thorne. New York: The Pilgrim Press, 1983. p. 103
Assurance of Pardon
What confidence do we have that we are forgiven?
That without any ability to make ourselves right before God,
Out of sheer grace,
God grants us perfect satisfaction.
He credits us with righteousness and the holiness of Christ.
It is as if we had never sinned nor been sinners,
As if we had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for us.
This we accept with a believing heart as a gift from God.
—Based Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 60, Translation © 2011, Faith Alive Christian Resources. Used by permission
Hymns
"1 Corinthians 13: Not for Tongues of Heaven's Angels" Dudley-Smith
"Fount of Love, Our Savior God" Yang, sung to DIX Kocher
"This Little Light of Mine" African-American
"Bring Forth the Kingdom" Haugen
"Creator Spirit, by Whose Aid" Maurus
"God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending" Edwards
"Our Cities Cry to You, O God" Clarkson
Revised Common Lectionary
Year A: Epiphany—Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Year A: Epiphany—Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
