Regular followers of our Saturday morning prayer walk livestream may have seen Richard and I go for a walk through Theatreland while discussing stories, drama, sacred space and faith. We talked about today’s Passion Play, and the power of drama to provoke thoughts, feelings and empathy. Today, I’ll be ‘taking to the stage’ in the role of Judas Iscariot. A daunting task! After all, Judas is one of the most infamous people to have ever lived. It is a name synonymous with betrayal, backstabbing, selfishness and greed. It’s very easy to judge what he did, how he behaved, the choices he made, but as an actor it is my responsibility not to judge, but to wonder why he made the choices he made. I wonder today who else in my life I have written off, or I struggle to see the good in, and challenge myself to be less judgemental and more curious.
I am of course, by saying this, forgetting that to someone I may be their ‘Judas’. When I read the Bible, I find it easy to cast myself as the protagonist or the hero in the story, often ignoring the harsh truth that many more thoughtful, devoted and faithful people than me were in the crowd shouting ‘Crucify him!’. During today’s retelling of the passion narrative, we as a congregation will be called upon to play the role of that crowd. Like me, you may find it hard to play this part, to understand how one can betray Jesus and condemn him. It may feel uncomfortable. I would encourage you though not to judge yourself, but reflect with curiosity and wonder how and why.
‘Acting is reacting’, so the old adage goes. So, I would also encourage you today not just to question your character’s actions, but also to note the subsequent reaction. Christ, who arrived in Jerusalem knowing full well the disruption it would cause and the inevitability of his death, experienced Judas’ betrayal, the cries of the crowd, and desertion and denial, and yet he reacted with love. He stayed with us until the end.
I really believe in the power of theatre and storytelling, and it’s my hope that today’s play, performed by actors, the community of St Martin’s, and our brilliant choir, will lead you into the wonder of God’s unstoppable abundant love.
Jolley Gosnold
