Based on Luke 2:41-52
To be read as a reflective monologue spoken by Mary. The reader might wear a shawl to designate themselves as a woman from Palestine.
We stopped to rest after a long day’s journey
families gathering to prepare their meal
we had just assumed – mistakenly – you were with your cousins
but when you didn’t come to find us …
We started to search
Woman 1: “No, we haven’t seen him.
Woman 2: “He’s not with us.”
a sinking feeling
panic setting in
my heart pounding in my head
we’re not bad parents
we didn’t just walk off and leave him
what will people think?
Frantic, we decided to retrace our steps
back to Jerusalem
searching that crowded city
How could I live with myself if anything happened to you?
flesh of my flesh
blood of my blood
Then word of a young boy
sitting among the teachers in the temple
listening
questioning
filled with knowledge beyond his years
could it be?
relief
tinged with anger
but mostly relief
you were safe.
But why didn’t you tell us?
we’re your parents
we’re responsible for you
Your father’s house?
Your home is with us in Nazareth.
I know, someday I will have to let you go
be your own person
but not yet
I’m not ready to let you go yet
a second cord has been severed.
Who is this child of ours?
Susan has kindly allowed Worship Words to share some items from her book, Re-imagining Worship, available for purchase online.
Click here to learn more about Susan Brecht and her book.
Photo: artwork in Romsey Abbey, UK — taken by Ana Gobledale
