Cycle C, C6 Skit Visit of the Three Wisemen, children's liturgy skit to be read or acted out, Christian skit, Catholic skit, short play, written by Joan Y. Edwards, www.joanyedwards.com

Cycle C

Skit “The Visit of the Three Wisemen”

For the Feast of The Epiphany of the Lord

Written by Joan Y. Edwards

New American Bible Matthew 2:1-12

Bible Gateway New International Version Matthew 2:1-12

Names and description of 3 kings and their gifts by Terry Ann Modica

Characters

Narrator

Jesus

Mary

Joseph

Herod

Melchior, an old man with white hair and a long beard

Gaspar young and beardless and ruddy complexioned

Balthasar, black-skinned and heavily bearded

Star (Can be a person dressed as a Star, or a Star on a yard stick)

Chief Priest 1

Chief Priest 2

Scribe 1

Scribe 2

Page

Gift Bearer #1

Gift Bearer #2

Gift Bearer #3

Narrator

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem.

(Outside Herod’s window)

Balthasar

Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star high in the sky and have come to worship him.

Chief Priest 1

We have not heard of a newborn king of the Jews.

Scribe 1

(checking his writings) No. There’s nothing written in the news about a new born King.

Herod

Go tell my chief priests and scribes to come here immediately.

Page

Yes, Sire.

Herod

Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?

Scribe 1

He is to be born here in Judea in the town of Bethlehem.

Scribe 2

These words were written through the prophet:

“And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.”

Chief Priest 2

(whispering loudly in Herod’s ear)

It sounds like he is being sent to take your place, your highness.

Herod

I will put a stop to that. You may go. (after they leave) Page, come here.

Get the three wisemen and bring them to my secret room. Make sure no one sees you approach them. Bring them through the secret passage.

Page

Yes, sire.

(Page enters with 3 wisemen)

Herod

Where did this star appear in the sky?

Melchior

The star rose in the East and led us here to Jerusalem. Now it is in the South near Bethlehem.

Narrator

According to scientists planets Jupiter, Saturn and Mars came together in the sky and looked like a single, unusually bright star in the year Jesus was born.

Herod

Go and search for the child in Bethlehem. When you have found him, come back and tell me where he is. I want to go show him the respect and honor due to a king, too.

Narrator

After their talk with Herod, the wisemen set out. And they followed the star to Bethlehem.

Melchior

Look the star is shining on the stable over there.

Gaspar

(Walking closer and peeking in)

I see the Baby King on his Mother’s lap near the manger.

Balthasar

(Knocking on the stable door)

Hello. We’ve come to see the King.

Joseph

Welcome. Come in. Come in.

(All 3 wisemen bow low and then lay down flat on the ground before Jesus. Then they rise one at a time and give their gifts.)

Melchior

I give you Gold to serve the needs of the people in your kingdom.

Gaspar

I give you Frankincense that burns as a sweet smelling smoke of praise and prayer to you, our God.

Balthasar

I give you Myrrh oil that is put on the dead because you are our Messiah and must suffer death to save us.

Mary

Stay the night with us. We know you are tired from your long trip. There is enough room here to rest with us.

Narrator

Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthasar lay down to sleep. They awaken when the morning sun comes up.

Melchior

I had a dream about Herod. It showed me he really wants to harm Jesus.

Gaspar

How strange! I had the same dream.

Balthasar

I had the same dream, too. We must go back a different way. That man means to kill the baby Jesus.

Narrator

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under. And so Joseph took Mary and the baby Jesus far away to Egypt until it was safe to return.

Narrator

Today at St. Ann’s Church we see people bringing their gifts to the altar.

Gift Bearer #1

We bring you Gold – We share the time, talent, and money we have to take care of God’s people in our parish and the surrounding areas of God’s kingdom. We give clothing to the needy. (One person carries a basket of clothing up to the altar) We give food to the hungry. (Another person carries a basket of food for the hungry) We give shelter to the homeless. (Another person carries a poster with a picture of a homeless shelter)

Gift Bearer #2

We bring Frankincense to burn so its smoke will rise up like our prayers, praises, and thanks to God. We pray for the sick. We pray for those in prison. We pray for peace. We pray for Forgiveness. We sing songs of praise to God for loving us. We thank God for giving us the Holy Eucharist. We thank God for our families and friends.

Gift Bearer #3

We bring Myrrh to remind us that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins so that we might one day enter into the heavenly kingdom of God. We bury our dead. We pray for those who died that they may have everlasting life with God in heaven. We offer our personal suffering to God.

Narrator

We, the people of St. Ann’s Catholic Church are the Wisemen of today. We have found Jesus in our hearts and in the hearts of others. What we do for others, we do for Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Heavenly Father. When we give our gifts to God, he gives them back to us three times over. Each time we reach out to help others, three people reach out to help us. God’s love surrounds us. We are blessed people.