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"The Wise and Unwise Virgins"
by
Cecile Kritikakis at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in
Houston, Texas
Narrator 1
comes from the right and goes to the left of center stage.
Narrator
1: Welcome
to the Bible Zone where parables told by Jesus, the Master Teacher, come
to life. Parables are stories Jesus told that explained truths by
using what is familiar to the listener.
Narrator
2 rushes from the right and goes to the left of center stage and joins
Narrator 1.
Narrator
2: Am I
late for the play?
Narrator
1:
Well, I guess not. But
this is the perfect play for you because it is about being on time and
prepared.
Narrator
2:
And what do you mean by that?
Narrator
1:
You will see. Just
listen.
Narrator
1: Through
the ages, people have speculated about when Jesus will return.
But the most important question for all of us is not when will He
return, but will we be prepared for His return.
Jesus illustrates the importance of being prepared for His Second
Coming by telling the Parable of the Wise and Unwise Virgins to His
disciples. He instructed
His disciples with this parable on the Tuesday before His death on the
cross.
Narrator
1: In this
parable there were wise virgins and unwise virgins, who were waiting for
the return of the bridegroom for the marriage and the marriage feast.
The wise virgins had prepared for the bridegroom by having extra
oil for their lamps. The
unwise virgins had not prepared and did not have any extra oil.
Narrator
2: I have
some questions. I know that
when Jesus told parables that they were full of symbols. That whatever was being talked about were actually symbols of
something else. Like the
flag is a symbol of our country.
Narrator
1: You are
correct.
Narrator
2:
Whom do the virgins represent?
Narrator
1: The
virgins represent people who are pious and have a Christian faith.
Narrator
2: What do
the lamps represent?
Narrator
1: The
lamps they carry represent the gifts of purity and holiness.
Narrator
2: What
does the extra oil represent?
Narrator
1: The oil
represents the spiritual energy from the Holy Spirit.
This reserve of oil comes from having a relationship with the
Holy Spirit, and as a result being filled with the Grace of the Holy
Spirit. Also, this oil
represents the merciful love we have for others due to being filled with
the Grace of the Holy Spirit.
When we act in a loving and merciful manner, it lights up our
lives and the lives of others, just as oil allows the lamp to burn
brightly with light.
Narrator2:
Who are the Bridegroom and the Bride?
Narrator
1: The
Bridegroom is Jesus and the Bride is the Church. The Virgins are friends of the Bride. They are sort of like brides maids. Also the coming of the Bridegroom is the Second Coming
and the Marriage feast is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Narrator
2: Does this mean the
actors get to have some lit lamps and vessels of oil?
Narrator
1: No, due to safety we
will use flashlights for lamps and batteries for oil.
Narrators
walk all the way to the left and exit stage.
Scene I – At The
Bride’s House
A young man comes and blows a
horn (should be a ram’s horn) and then leaves.
Four young
women approach an imaginary door and knock.
A young woman (Bride-Marie) answers.
Marie:
Great! You are here. The
horn has sounded. It has
been over a year waiting for this moment.
Finally, Judah’s father has decided our wedding chamber is
prepared for our wedding night. Also
our new house is ready for us to start our life together.
Tonight I will be wedded. I
am so excited.
Leah:
It is an exciting time. I
am so happy for you.
Rachel:
Oh, the excitement is in the air.
Can you not feel it?
Marie:
I hope you are all prepared.
Do you have plenty of batteries for your flashlights?
We do not know exactly when Judah will come with his friends to
take us to his father’s house for the wedding.
He could be delayed.
Leah:
Yes, Marie, I have extra batteries to keep my flash light going.
Rachel:
I do too, Marie.
Marie:
Leah and Rachel, that is good.
How about you, Diane and Elizabeth?
Diane:
Oh, Marie, you worry too much.
These batteries will surely last till Judah and his friends come
here to lead the way.
Elizabeth:
Yes, Marie, you do worry. Even
though the batteries in the flashlight are a little worn, they will
last. Surely Judah will
come right after the sunset.
Marie:
I hope you two are right. Are
you sure you do not want to go quickly now and get some more batteries?
Diane
and Elizabeth:
NO!
Marie:
Ok, it is your choice.
The
young girls gather around the Bride and start preparing her. Brushing her hair putting jewelry on her and putting her veil
on her. The ooh and aah
over the gifts from Judah, which are a ring and bracelet.
Leah:
The sun has set. It
is time for us to go outside and watch for the groom.
Marie, you rest and we will warn you when he is coming.
Rachel:
Yes, Marie, you are prepared to meet Judah.
Rest a bit while we go out with our flashlights and watch for
him. We will give you plenty of warning.
The
young girls go out side and sit. After
awhile:
Rachel:
It looks like Judah is delayed.
Diane:
I hope he hurries up and arrives here before my batteries run
out.
Elizabeth:
I am tired. I am not
going to worry. I am going
to sleep for a while.
Leah:
It will not hurt to sleep a little while.
Rachel and I are prepared. Are
you sure you do not want to go and buy more batteries?
There is still time.
Diane
and Elizabeth:
NO!
Rachel:
Let’s sleep, Leah. This
is Diane’s and Elizabeth’s choice not to have extra batteries.
All
four girls sleep. The
flashlights slowly burn out. All
at once the horn blows and a shout goes out.
Best
Man: Behold
the bridegroom, Judah, has come for his bride!!! Come out and meet him. The
best man’s first call should sound from afar and behind the stage.
It should be louder as he gets nearer.
Pause for 10 second between blowing the horn and calling out.
The groom and his friends should appear on stage after the 3rd
call. Give girls time to
load flashlights.
The
girls jump up and run to get Marie.
They notice their flashlights have burned out.
Rachel and Leah quickly change their batteries.
Diane and Elizabeth look desperate.
Diane:
Leah, Rachel, give Elizabeth and me some of your batteries!
Leah:
Sorry, but we have only enough for us.
If we give you some of ours, we will not have enough for our
flashlights.
Rachel:
Go to the market. Maybe someone will be willing to sell some.
But I fear you have waited too late.
It is Midnight. I do not think anything is opened. I am so sorry, but we cannot help you now.
The
friends of the groom put the bride in a chair (wheel chair) and push her
off stage. Leah and Rachel quickly follow. Everyone has flashlights.
Exit right. Blowing horn and making announcement. Diane and Elizabeth
exit left frightened and in a hurry.
Narrators come on stage and past Diane and Elizabeth and watch
them exit.
Narrator
2: Now that
was cold and mean for Leah and Rachel not to share their batteries.
I thought Jesus taught we are supposed to share.
Narrator
1: You have already
forgotten what the oil represents.
It does not represent material things of this world we are
supposed to share. It
represents the love and the good works that is the result of having a
deep and abiding relationship with God.
It is the grace of the Holy Spirit active in your life.
Narrator
1: Let me
give you another example. Say
we are having a test in our history class.
Time was given to prepare for the test.
I come to class not prepared.
But you have prepared. You
have studied very hard and now have a very intimate knowledge of
history. Can you share that
knowledge with me at the time of the class and help me pass?
Narrator
2: No, I
cannot share my time studying. And
if I gave you the answers, that would be cheating. Ah, I get it. Spiritual
preparation cannot be given away. Just
like preparing for a test, it is up to each student. You can help and encourage before the test.
But if a person refuses to study you cannot study for them.
And when it is time to take the test, it is too late to even help
them.
Narrator
2: What is
it with the wheelchair? The
bride can walk.
Narrator
1: In
ancient days the bride would have been put in a chair and the friends of
the groom would carry her in the streets.
But for safety we used a wheelchair.
Narrators
exit left.
Scene
II: The Road to the Feast
The
bridal party enters the stage. They
proceed to the Father’s house. They
are laughing and singing. The
Best man continues to blow horn and shout.
The crowds also shout for people to join them to the feast.
They come to the courtyard.
Two servants step on stage.
They go to Judah.
Servant
1(Simon):
May we close the gates master?
Judah:
Yes Simon. Everyone
has had enough time to prepare and come to the wedding and feast.
Close the gates and do not let anyone come in afterwards.
Then count the guests and give the number of guests to the cook.
Servant
1: Ok,
Dan, let’s close the gates.
The
two servants Simon and Dan close the imaginary gates.
Servant
1:
Dan, count the guests.
Servant
2 counts.
Servant
2: Simon, there are __.
I will tell cook to prepare a banquet for __ people.
Narrators
come back on stage but to a corner.
Servants exit.
Narrator
2: Why did they close the
gates?
Narrator
1:
Well have you ever had a party and needed to know a head count?
Narrator
2:
Yes. And it sure was troublesome when people do not RSVP.
Narrator
1:
The doors are closed, so they can get an accurate head count.
The
Cook will not have to continue to prepare extra meals as people
straggle in. This way the banquet can be prepared accurately and timely.
Narrator
2: Does the
closing of the gates have any symbolic meaning?
Narrator
1: Glad you
ask and yes it does. The
shut gates symbolize human death. After
death there is no longer time for repentance and change. The time for preparation for the Kingdom of Heaven is now.
After death there is no more time.
Remember the Marriage feast is symbolic of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The
servants come back.
Servant
1: The
feast is ready. Come into the house.
Servant
2: Come
all to the Wedding of Judah and Marie. Afterwards, there will be a feast
with wine, food and dancing. Come
and celebrate this most joyous occasion.
Everyone
proceeds off stage except narrators.
Narrator
1: Once all
the guests go inside they will receive a beautiful white robe to wear
for the wedding.
Narrator
2: Wait.
That sounds familiar. There
is a Parable about a king who had a wedding feast for his son but the
invited guests did not come because they were too busy doing other
things. So the King sent
out his servants to bring people from the streets to his feast.
During the feast he saw a man that did not have wedding clothes
on. Are white robes the
wedding clothes in this other parable?
Narrator
1: That’s
very good. Yes they are.
Do you remember what happened to the man who did not have a white
robe?
Narrator
2: Yes, he
was cast out into the outer darkness.
Why?
Narrator
1: Because
if you did not have a white robe that means you did not arrive through
the front gate. You are not
an invited guest. You would
have had to sneak in.
All
at once from the opposite stage Diane and Elizabeth coming running on
stage. They bang on the
imaginary gates.
Diane
and Elizabeth:
Please let us in! Judah,
it is friends of Marie.
Judah
comes on stage.
Judah:
Who are you? I
cannot see you. You do not
have any light.
Diane:
Well, our batteries went dead.
But we are here now. Let
us in.
Elizabeth:
Please let us in. It
is not our fault we had dead batteries and we are late.
Judah:
I do not know you.
Judah
walks back into the house.
Diane
and Elizabeth walk off stage too crying and wailing it is not their
fault.
Narrator
1 – Do you know what is sad?
Narrator
2 – What?
Narrator
1 – Diane and Elizabeth had many chances.
They even had friends that encouraged them to go get more batteries.
They just refused to listen.
Narrator
2: You know
I now understand what you mean about this play would teach me.
I am always late for different things.
I should stop making excuses and start doing things timely.
Do not put off till tomorrow what you can do today is going to be
my motto.
Narrator
1: That is
good but remember to apply this to your spiritual life.
Grow with God now through prayer, scripture, fasting, worship and
loving other people. Let’s
go see the marriage feast.
Narrators
exit stage.
Scene
III – The Marriage Feast
Everyone
should be having a great time dancing and drinking and laughing and
talking. The Bride and
Groom share wine with all. The best man announces that this dance is for
the bride and groom. End
with a line dance for the happy couple dancing in the middle.