PASSION PLAY –

a Lenten imagination meditation with suggestions for personal reflection and sharing.

Toni Rowland

The new bishop had some really innovative ideas. Having been a teacher he realized the value of an active involvement in the learning process. So therefore to encourage deep and serious reflection on the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus he came up with a suggestion that parishes plan to have a passion play. How would the parts be chosen? Was it to be by occupation? Priests, soldiers, workers, teachers, women? That was a really difficult one. After some thought it was considered best to draw lots and allow the chosen characters to grow into their parts as they lived their everyday lives and also through regular reflection and sharing. It was therefore necessary that the parts should be allocated many months ahead of time. Of course there would be parts for everyone and gender need not be an issue. Any number of bystanders had played a part in the original drama.

The reflection and sharing in preparation for the passion plays in different parishes could be quite different as the communities were different. Think of rural and urban, farming and suburb or township, or informal settlements, think of mansions and shacks. Jesus was to be incarnated into each of these situations in accordance with the people’s own cultural background and experience.

The main parts to be drawn were the apostles, Mary and the women, Pilate, Herod, Caiaphas. There were parts for priests, elders and scribes, Joseph of Arimathea and other Pharisees and Sadducees too.

Important though small parts were Simon of Cyrene and the good thief. And naturally there was the all-important role of Jesus. The committee met and prayed for guidance before drawing the names.

As fate would have Joseph of Arimathea was drawn by the Pastoral Council Chairman, Joseph Patrick and Mary Magdalene by the catechetical coordinator, Mildred Daniels. The part of Jesus was drawn by a new-comer to the community, a Zimbabwean Moses Ndebele.

When she heard about the choice Joseph’s wife Clara laughed a little cynically. “You always were a dark horse,” she told him. “I wonder if this will challenge you to come out with your views.”

Joseph himself did feel challenged and considered how this would effect his life. He had often wondered whether his choice for PPC chair had been because of his status as a member of one of the leading families in the community or for his personal ability. He had never been an outwardly religious man but could always be counted on when there was work to be done. He kept his business matters to himself and few people knew much about his family. No one was aware of the heartache he and Clara as parents had experienced over the years over their lesbian daughter. They had gradually come to terms with her orientation, but still thanked God she was not one those “gay pride” types, but lived in a distant town in a committed relationship. Marriage and adoption were frightening possibilities that they both rejected in principle, but knew they would find difficult to condemn openly. Joseph particularly felt a deep concern for other parents in similar situations. What would his stance be in his role of Joseph of Arimethea? As was the case with his namesake would it be OK for him to hide in the wings? Fortunately their marriage was good. He hoped that their prayer life would help him find the way ahead.

Although a little taken aback at first, Mildred thanked God for the opportunity to play the role of Mary Magdalene. “My own model and example,” she prayed, “Don’t ever let me become “holier than thou” and condemn others, but help me find the way to uphold the values I have now chosen.”

Although he had originally left only to find a better life for himself, behind the scenes in the informal settlement where he lived he had taken a teaching post and become somewhat of a counselor too, often being called on to mediate in conflict situations between refugees and other shack-dwellers.

In his own quiet prayer times at night he would reflect on Jesus’ mission and pray, “Jesus was no pushover in his day. Father help me to keep a balance, to remember the way of love.”

Opportunities were created for groups of related characters to meet and share on their growing understanding of their parts and how they applied to their lives in the 21st century. How did the apostles fit in work with ministry? How would chief priests, scribes and elders fit into a modern setting? What about Pilate and his aspirations to power? What about women followers of Jesus and their aspirations to positions of power too?

Moses, in his role as Jesus, became better known and respected and his own self-confidence and personality blossomed as he moved about from group to group in the parish. Mildred and the confirmation class agreed he was one of the most popular and charismatic guest speakers they had had. They had all joked a bit about the friendship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene but there was no doubt that the experience was drawing them together.

The parish prayed, the families prayed and a deeper spirituality developed as the characters lived their parts and shared their struggles and their joys.

“Violence erupted at Human Rights’ Day rally. One man died,” read the report. “His death will be investigated.”

The parish mourned. The parish prayed and committed itself once again to the call of the Kingdom.