Role-playing Scripture

 

The Luke 11:9 series: Role-playing Scripture

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Introduction

This post introduces a way to immerse yourself in Scripture using role-play, to get a deeper understanding of the word of God. During the 'Seeds of Contemplation' retreat held at St Simon's Church in October 2024, the pastor Fr Brendan McGuire introduced us to the understanding of scripture through the instrument of role-play. 

What the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) teaches us

• The Catechism teaches that Sacred Scripture is the Word of God revealed to humanity. Scriptures are divinely inspired, meaning that God worked through human authors to communicate His message. It is considered inerrant in matters of salvation, meaning that it is free from error when it comes to what God wants to reveal for the sake of our salvation (CCC 107).
• Sacred Scripture is not just an ancient text, rather it is living and active, meaning that it continues to speak to the faithful through the Holy Spirit, helping them to grow in faith, hope, and charity (CCC 131).

What does scripture say about the Word of God?

In Matthew 4:4, Jesus says, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." 

St Timothy, a hand-picked disciple of St Paul, when imprisoned for preaching the faith wrote, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." [2 Timothy 3:16-17]

Both these declarations boldly emphasize the importance of Scripture for spiritual sustenance. 

As humans we have built layers of disbelief, scepticism and outright disdain for the word of God - that is why reading Scripture needs a special mindset to understand the true meaning - it is after multi-layered text inspired by God - otherwise, to mix metaphors, it like pouring water on a duck's back. 

But take courage, St James in his letter said, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." [James 1:5]

Where to find the Word of God?

The Gospel of St John starts with this profound statement, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." [John 1:4] 

This emphasises that Jesus Christ is the Word of God, who was begotten from the start of creation. 

The Vatican has declared that it was by the apostolic Tradition that the Church discerned which writings are to be included in the Canon of Scripture, the list of sacred books.

• The Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, Esther, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Songs, the Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah and Malachi.

• The New Testament: the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the Acts of the Apostles, the Letters of St. Paul to the Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, the Letter to the Hebrews, the Letters of James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John, and Jude, and Revelation (the Apocalypse).

Example of Role-playing Scripture using Luke 5:18-26

The idea of role-playing is to take a passage of Scripture, re-read it a couple of times then imagine yourself playing the role of one of the characters mentioned in it. By putting yourself in the text, let your thoughts and feelings come out. Now, when you read the same passage intersperse your reflections into the text to give a whole new appreciation.

As an example choose between 

• Healing of the Paralytic [Luke 5:18-26]
• Healing of the Woman with Haemorrhage [Mark 5:25-34]

Role-playing the parable of the Healing of the Paralytic.

Now read Luke 5:18-26 a few times: 'Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”'

Next, choose to put yourself in the shoes of one of the characters and imagine what thoughts and feelings go through your mind as you read the text. I chose to play the role of the paralytic man - see my reactions interspersed inside the text.

'Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed [That's me, Joe. I shout out although no one seems to care, 'Stop guys! What's the big rush? Will someone tell me what's going on? Where are you taking me?'], whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him [I'm incredulous at their reckless plan, 'Who is this preacher? I don't know him and he doesn't know me so why would he even care? This makes no sense, let's just go home, alright?']. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd [I try protesting but no one seems to care, 'See I told you it was a bad idea all along. Let's go home already, you are embarrassing me!'], they went up on the housetop [Now I'm panicking, 'is anyone listening. Not the roof. Are you all crazy? I'm going to fall and break my neck. Stop for heaven's sake!']  and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” [I can't even think now. My mind is a blur. I hear something about sins but it doesn't make any sense, this preacher isn't much help ... I still can't walk. What was I saying all along, it's a bad idea and now I will be the laughing stock of the whole town. Thanks for nothing, guys'] And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” [Just then I feel a jolt of energy go through my whole body. It is like someone has breathed life into me. Every hair on my body stands on edge and yet I feel a deep sense of peace, like someone has removed the millstone from my neck. I swear I feel like I am ready to take flight]. Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God [My heart is racing as I leap around like a deer. I exclaim, "Free at last. God of Abraham, God of Jacob thank you. This preacher is truly a man of God". I say that in all sincerity because I feel like I a whole new person. He has done the impossible for me. Why me, a poor paralytic of no importance, I will never understand] And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”'

Conclusion: By interpreting the text in this way, it became clear to me that Jesus healed the paralytic man not because he was repentant or had immense faith (unlike the Woman with Haemorrhage [Mark 5:25-34]) but through the Grace of God. That's our all-loving and merciful God as told in Scripture.

Footnote

This series of posts, which I call, 'The Luke 11:9 Series', is an attempt to verbalise various aspects of my Catholic faith as revealed in Scripture; topics include Destination Heaven; Golden ticket; God's Grace; Seeds of Love; Mary, did you know?; Feel the love of God; Love your neighbour as yourself, The Good Shepherd; Receive the Sacraments often; Eucharistic Adoration; Communion of Saints; How to pray; Role-playing Scripture; Mary, Help of Christians; Understanding suffering; Forgiveness; Gratitude, the life-changing attitude; Life after death; One Body of Christ; and Hearts ablaze. I sincerely hope it helps you in your faith journey. Always turn to the Holy Spirit when you search for answers to your questions, because Luke 11:9 says, "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."