The Welcome, a monologue
by Troy Cady
Synopsis: The Bible tells us that Mary "pondered" the wonder of Christ's birth in her heart. This drama takes a look at some of the things she may well have been thinking. The incarnation is loaded with mystery.
Setting: The stable. Perhaps it could look more like a cave. The drama can take place in either a modern setting or a biblical setting.
Director's Note: Originally this drama was packaged with a song by Chris Rice called "Welcome to Our World." Mary sang the song as part of the drama.
Copyright Note: This play is protected under copyright law and performance is strictly prohibited without the express consent of the author. Though production is generally granted royalty free, please contact Troy Cady for permission to perform this play.
The Welcome
(MARY enters, standing next to an imaginary manger. She is deep in thought, not even looking at the baby in the manger at various times, like now. Her eyes are pointed up and out but it is clear that that is not where she is really looking; she is looking inside herself.)
MARY: It’s strange how much I love him. I mean, I knew I would love him. But this--this is... Love is too small a word.
It’s strange how, now that he’s out of me, I want him inside me. I mean…
It’s strange how I want to show him so much in the world, but I have the feeling he’s going to show me the world.
It’s strange how such a little thing can fill a heart and break it at the same time. It’s strange how I feel joy and sadness all at once.
Should a mother be thinking these things? Should a mother be feeling like this? Am I normal?
No, I'm not normal; I'm special. The angel told me so. I’m singled out by God. How did he put it? “Don’t be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God…”
See, I can’t be normal. Isn’t God’s favor reserved for men? What kind of God bestows this kind of honor on a woman? What kind of woman gets pregnant when she has never lain with a man? I can’t be normal.
But, if I’m not normal, how do I cope with my listless thoughts? What would you do with these feelings, if you were me?
I’ll tell you what you do: you do what every other mother does: you do whatever it takes to make a home for your precious baby. You hold him. You feed him. You wrap him in a blanket. You keep him clean. You keep him warm. You rock him to sleep and lay him in a cradle. You coo and cuddle and smile and sing.
But with this baby, you do all that as if the next day won’t come. You do all that as if the God of mercy who gave him to you is going to take him back the day after tomorrow.
You welcome him as if he is a stranger and a lover wrapped all into one. You welcome him as if he’s going to kiss you passionately the night he arrives, but then in four day’s time he’ll have to return to his real home. With this baby desperation and peace mingle together. Peace because, at last, the one you have been longing for is here (!), but desperation because, when you least expect it, you know he’ll be dead and gone.
So you make a mental marker of time passing. Every 14 minutes gives pause to remembrance. Every hour is treated as a fresh homecoming. Time becomes a door for an unending welcome. And welcome is all you have to give.
But how can I say welcome to you, when I feel like you are welcoming me?
It’s strange.
(Mary sings the song “Welcome to Our World”)
END OF DRAMA