Two mothers of Bethlehem

Two mothers of Bethlehem

For 2 women, flexible setting, graphic language. A mother of one of the Holy Innocents (B)
and a present day (Palestinian) mother in Bethlehem (A) swap stories Mary could tell the child
Jesus to prepare him to bear the “heavy load” of human sorrow. Notes on staging at the end.

A Do you think she told him stories?

B Surely – every mother tells stories. Even I, I sometimes still…

A … Still use story? To help the child who survived?

B ..to tell of the ways of the world: of hope and betrayal and fear.

A Of how her brother died.

B We tell stories to ease the shock of the pain. To warn that danger lurks
in the shadows, and that what is loved may be lost.

A So, Mary, what stories did you tell Jesus, 2000 years ago? To warn of
the sin he must bear; to see the scale of sorrow’s load?

B What did you tell him, on the long road to Egypt, as you fled Herod’s
wrath? – and I remained, ignorant, to meet it.

A Did you tell of the hungry desert? Of cattle bones baked by the sun? Of
a mother’s choice: which child to carry, which to abandon?

Continues...



Kit  Walkham