A Dramatic Dialogue for Holy Week
Saturday, 29 A.D. is a dramatic
dialogue based on the characters of Pontius Pilate and his wife. There
isn't much in the scriptures on these two characters. The trial before
Pilate is related in all four gospels, but his wife is mentioned only
in the Matthew Passion. Pilate is vilified as the man who sends Christ
to his death. His wife only appears briefly as one who sends word to
Pilate. "Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I
have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him", she warns.
Historically, Pilate was married to Claudia Procula, the illegitimate
(and favorite) daughter of Caesar Augustus. According to tradition,
Claudia is said to have converted to Christianity shortly after Jesus'
death and become a rather prominent missionary of the early church.
The plot of this drama then becomes the conflict between Rome and religion
and in a larger sense, unbelievers and believers. Claudia represents
true faith while Pilate holds to his duty and his country.
It was important, dramatically, to give Claudia a reason for her conversion
this early in history. It was decided that she should be the unnamed
woman in the marketplace who was healed by touching the hem of Jesus'
garment. The drama proceeds under the assumption that Pilate is also
aware of this.
Pilate then, in this story, is the tragic figure. He knows who and what
Jesus is. Not just in the physical sense, but also as a spiritual entity.
He must decide Christ's fate and try as he might to shift the decision
elsewhere, it is ultimately his to make. He gave Jesus four chances
to save himself, he reasons, and four times Jesus refused.
Although Pilate and Claudia are the main characters, it soon becomes
evident that they represent more than the two historical figures. Pilate
becomes "Everyman" and is faced with the choice of accepting
Christ for what he was and is or rejecting him totally. Claudia becomes
the antagonist, pushing Pilate to a final decision. Just as Pilate gave
Jesus four chances to save himself, so Claudia presents four arguments,
or opportunities, for Pilate to be redeemed. "He is the living
water," she says, "and even now, you may be saved." Finally
with the words "I wash my hands of this Jesus of Nazareth",
Pilate's fate is decided. He has chosen the way of destruction. With
the words "I know no sin but treason", he seals his ties to
Rome and the world.
Musically, there are four prominent motives which represent characters
and situations. Pilate has a Romanesque fanfare figure representing
his ties to Rome and duty. Claudia, a descending melodic figure. Rome,
as Claudia remembers it - a peaceful and happy place - has its own motive.
Pilate's reports to Rome are underscored by the hymn tune "Herzliebster
Jesu" (Ah, Holy Jesus). The accompaniment to the argument between
Pilate and Claudia is a quote from Benjamin Britten’s Canticle
II - Abraham and Isaac.
This
streaming file is best listened to with Windows Media Player.
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