|
|
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion February 25, 2005 |
A daily |
Frontline Devotion for Friday, February 25, 2005 By Mike
Martine
Text: Matthew
24: 1-2; Malachi
4: 1 – 2
Jesus’ words today are related to the words of another prophet, Malachi. Both
made predictions about the temple that, shortly after Jesus’ death, came true.
These words speak to us today, reminding us that the things of this life are
temporary, that even this life is temporary. What follows is a play I wrote in
the past year dealing with these issues. I hope that it is a suitable meditation
for you today. Peace. mm
BICYCLE RIDER, COMPLETE WITH HELMET, RIDES INTO CHURCH.
THE BAPTISMAL FONT IS PROMINENTLY IN THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH.
THE “RIDER” IS WEARING A SANDWICH BOARD, THE BACK READS “EVIL DOERS WILL
BE STUBBLE.” THE FRONT READS, “THE DAY IS COMING”
(THE RIDER DISMOUNTS.)
RIDER
(LOUDLY PROCLAIMING) The day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the
arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble! The day that comes shall burn them
up, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch!
SNOTTY TOUR GUIDE
Yes, now welcome to Trinity Lutheran Church!
(RIDER GOES TO SIDE—UNSEEN)
TOURIST ONE
Wow! This place is beautiful!
SNOTTY TOUR GUIDE
Yes…Trinity is recognized as one of the most beautiful churches built in Mount
Joy, Pennsylvania in the 1970’s.
TOURIST TWO
Marge! Look at that glass, Marge! You don’t see glass like that anymore!
MARGE
Oh! And this FONT! Look at it!
TOURIST TWO
The pictures of baptisms here must be just amazing!
TOURIST ONE
And look at that cross up there, and that organ!
SNOTTY TOUR GUIDE
Ah yes, the organ—a digital and pipe hybrid capable of producing sounds
directly taken from some of the great organs of Europe!
(THE RIDER STARTS SNEAKING CLOSER)
TOURIST ONE
Man, I’d like to hear that thing play “Inna Gotta De Vita.”
MARGE
Honey! Our picture! Our picture by this exquisite font!
(TOURIST ONE AND MARGE POSE BY THE FONT. TOURIST TWO PREPARES TO TAKE A PICTURE.
THE RIDER APPROACHES.)
RIDER
You see that cross? That organ? Even that font? The day is coming when none of
this will be here! All will be thrown down! Nothing remembered! Even your
pictures will fade to nothing!
(ALL REACT IN SHOCK, THEN TOURIST TWO VENTURES…)
TOURIST TWO
Uh…actually, these are digital, and if you get them processed, rather than
print them on a printer, they’re very durable.
RIDER
(BOARDING BIKE AND RIDING AWAY) The day is coming!!
SNOTTY TOUR GUIDE
Please forgive him—he’s a vagrant. Sometimes he sneaks in.
(TOUR GROUP MOVES AWAY. KIDS HEADED TO A DANCE ENTER.)
KID 1
What did you get for the dance?
KID 2
Not much…just these shoes!!
KID3
Awesome!
KID 4
(LEANING FORWARD) Hey, and check this out!
KID 1
What? I don’t see anything.
KID 4
Inhale, inhale…
(ALL KIDS SNIFF, THEN START COUGHING)
KID 2
What did you do? Use the whole bottle?
KID 4
The Master of Romance has gotta make a statement.
KID 3
Yeah, like Pepe Le Peu you do!
(RIDER STARTS APPROACHING.)
KID 4
Cut it out!
KID 1
It is so awesome to be young.
KID 2
And to have cool clothes
KID 3
And with the right dance partner, babe you got it all!
(RIDER SNEAKS CLOSER)
KID 4
I mean…cool clothes, a party, man, anyone who says anything else matters just
doesn’t…
RIDER
You cling to the things of this world! But the lines will form on your face! The
joints of your body will seize and break down! The sound of dance will be heard
no more!
(KIDS REACT IN FEAR, THEN START TO SLINK AWAY.)
KID 2
What is his problem?
KID 3
My Dad says he’s a kook.
KID 4
He’s been riding around this town for 20 years!
RIDER
(RIDING AWAY) The Day is coming! The Day is coming!
(PASTOR WITH CONFIRMATION CLASS ENTERS AND GATHERS AROUND THE FONT.)
PASTOR
OK, class, today we’re going to talk about remembering our baptism.
CONFIRMAND 1
Remembering? I don’t remember my baptism.
CONFIRMAND 2
You’re too dumb.
CONFIRMAND 3
He isn’t dumb; he was a baby!
CONFIRMAND 4
We were all babies!
PASTOR
Well, actually, I’m pretty sure you were all babies. But even if you were
older, you can remember your baptism when you pass the font.
CONFIRMAND 1
What’s a font?
PASTOR
This is a font. It holds the water we baptize with.
CONFIRMAND 2
Where did you get the water?
PASTOR
From the sink. But it’s water God uses in a special way.
CONFIRMAND 3
So how do we remember?
CONFIRMAND 4
Why bother remembering? We were just babies.
PASTOR
Patience, my small ones.
CONFIRMAND 1
I hate it when she calls us that.
PASTOR
To remember your baptism, you must first dip your finger in the water. Go ahead.
(KIDS DIP THEIR FINGERS) And then you draw a big cross on yourself.
(RIDER SNEAKS NEAR)
CONFIRMAND 2
It feels sorta nice.
CONFIRMAND 3
Yeah, but how come?
RIDER
The day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers
will be stubble! The day that comes shall burn them up, so that it will leave
them neither root nor branch!
PASTOR
Joe, come on now, you’ve got to stop that.
RIDER
(EXITING) The day is coming! The day is coming!
PASTOR
Oh, Joe…
CONFIRMAND 4
Pastor, that guy give me the creeps.
CONFIRMAND 1
Why don’t they lock him up? All he does is scare people all over town.
PASTOR
Well, for one thing, Joe’s right.
CONFIRMAND 2
He’s right?
CONFIRMAND 3
Pastor, you’re giving me the creeps.
PASTOR
Look, I don’t want you to worry. And I don’t think the end of the world is
coming that soon—even though it could.
CONFIRMAND 4
Yeah…so how is he right?
CONFIRMAND 1
Yeah, he’s been screaming at people for 20 years and none of what he says
happens, so how can you say he’s right?
PASTOR
My grandfather knew Joe.
CONFIRMAND 2
So?
PASTOR
What Joe says came true for my Grandpa.
CONFIRMAND 3
What do you mean?
PASTOR
My grandfather died. Look, I know what Joe says never seems to happen, but the
truth is, this world comes to an end for each of us someday. It comes to an end
for us when we die.
CONFIRMAND 4
But that doesn’t mean the world isn’t still here.
PASTOR
No, but it does mean you’re gone. It does mean that you are standing before
God. It does mean that your heart is going to be examined.
CONFIRMAND 1
That’s scary.
CONFIRMAND 2
Really scary.
PASTOR
Yeah, but listen, there’s more to that verse Joe says, it says, “But for you
who revere my name the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in it’s
wings.” That’s why we remember our baptism, because when we’re baptized,
God makes us righteous.
CONFIRMAND 3
What’s righteous?
PASTOR
Righteous means OK with God. God makes you his own child. You cross yourself;
remember your baptism, to remind yourself that someday, when you die, you
don’t need to be afraid. God will take you in.
CONFIRMAND 4
So even if Joe is right…
CONFIRMAND 1
Even if the day comes…
PASTOR
God will be with you. And this (DIPS FINGER AND CROSSES HERSELF, CONFIRMANDS
FOLLOW SUIT) helps you remember. You will rise on that day…with healing on
your wings.
 |
All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
Visit the |