The Hope: Blended Monologues for Christmas

Written by Matt Tullos

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Mary: I searched for an extraordinary life, and I discovered an extraordinary man. I dreamed of a life shared in the home of my beloved. A family. A chance to watch my children grow and to fill our home with love.

Joseph: A home that I would build with these hands. This was my purpose—to build a place where God’s love could dwell. I desired a family just as Mary did.

Mary: We were to be married.

Joseph: We had so much hope during the days of our betrothal.

Mary: Hope to care for each other.

Joseph: Hope to shelter and protect each other.

Mary: We aren’t blind idealists. Life is difficult, especially in this dangerous corner of the world filled with dictators, terrorists, and zealots. People who worshiped religion more than they love their Creator. People who murdered the babies of their enemies. But our love gave us hope.

Joseph: Everything seemed to fall apart when I received the news. It destroyed all the hope I’d ever had. Apparently the one I loved more than any other person on this earth had betrayed me. The news hit me like a ton of bricks. I couldn’t breath. I couldn’t think. Everything I had hoped for seemed to melt before my very eyes into a puddle of disappointment and suspicion, but mostly hopelessness.

Mary: How I could explain this to him? How could I begin? (Practicing) “Joseph, this is not what you think. I heard from an angel.” In truth, it sounded more absurd when I said those words out loud to myself. This wasn’t something I’d be able to fix. I didn’t know what to do. But those words came back to me again, the words of that holy stranger.
“Mary!
You’re beautiful with God's beauty,
Beautiful inside and out!
God be with you.” (The Message Bible)
I was shaken. What could God mean by sending me a greeting like that? “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you:
You will become pregnant and give birth to a Son and call His name Jesus.
He will be great, be called ‘Son of the Highest.' ”
My world turned upside down in an instant. But what hope would I have for Joseph.

Joseph: All hope vanished when Mary’s family broke the news to me. Telling me the news terrified them because they knew I had every right under Jewish law to humiliate her and their family. But how do you shame someone you’ve loved since you were a kid? I fell into a hopeless pit of despair—so burdened that it was difficult to do the simplest things, to even breathe.

Mary: But then he came to me. He said,

Joseph: “I know the truth. We didn’t have a chance, but now I see God’s hand. It was the greatest news I had ever heard. ‘Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to take Mary as your wife! For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a Son, and you shall name him Jesus (meaning Savior), for he will save his people from their sins. This will fulfill God’s message through his prophets—Listen! The virgin shall conceive a child! She shall give birth to a Son, and he shall be called 'Emmanuel’” (Matt. 1:20b, The Living Bible).

Mary: When everything seemed unsure,

Joseph: God gave me hope.

Mary: When I felt like no one understood my pain. God’s tender hand of mercy reached out to me.

Joseph: In my anger and frustration, I missed the miracle hidden in the darkness. And then holy light pierced through and healed me.

Mary: Hope,

Joseph: Like a mighty rushing wind.

Mary: Hope like a still small voice.

Joseph: Glory to God! The One who sees what no one else can see.

Mary: Glory to God who is the undefeated way maker of hope.

Joseph: Glory to God in the highest. And on earth,

Mary: And in my heart,

Joseph: In the midst of shame and fear,

Mary: In the time I need most,

Joseph: Here on earth. Right now.

Both: HOPE!