The script or scripture?

Just so we’re clear, the Biblical “Exodus” is in no way similar to millions of Filipinos leaving Metro Manila for the provinces to go to the beaches or to a “Fiesta.” That’s the script that broadcast media reads a week before Holy Week if only to whip everybody into a frenzy and give themselves something to report on as we pile up on top of each other on the many bus terminals, airports, piers and expressways. Yes, the Exodus was a journey of faith and yes, millions of Filipinos may truly be taking journeys of faith as they risk it all, believing they will get to their destination, on time, alive, and actually have a great vacation.

For all intents and purposes, any attempt to sanctify or sprinkle holiness on the observation of “Holy Week” in the Philippines would be the full equivalent of promoting a pagan holiday. All that was “holy” in “Holy Week” has been squashed and trampled by the hordes of travellers who now use “Holy Week” as the official starting line for summer outings.

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Yesterday, as I monitored the news, I listened to two veteran broadcasters share what they knew about Holy Week, and there sure was slim pickings as far as what they knew of Biblical scripture. What struck me the most about the conversation was the fact that for many Filipinos, their knowledge of God, religion and “scriptures” were actually scant lifelong impressions from movies beginning with the movie “The Bible,” “The Ten Commandments” – all the way to “The Passion of the Christ” starring Jim Caviziel and directed by Mel Gibson.

I am reminded of that time when the coming of Holy Week meant waving palm fronds, re-runs of “spiritual” films, fasting and abstinence, houses feeling like cemeteries, and traumatic re-enactments by penitents scourging themselves for the world to see. Aside from the scriptures that one picked up from the movie scripts, the only time focus was given to actual scriptures was in the commemoration of  “The 7 last words.” Please! Don’t ask me to explain, go ask your parents or parish priest.

But since I’ve started with the title “The Script or Scriptures” I might as well go further and share a real treasure that never occurred to me to share here on CTALK before. That treasure happens to be the masterpiece that 500 actors put together in the form of an audio drama complete with sound effects and musical scoring. The treasure is called “Word of Promise” (Audio Bible). I lifted some information from the official site and added some info on some of the actors and actresses: Veteran actor Michael York whose been in “Romeo and Juliet,” ”Jesus of Nazareth” and “Three Musketeers” as the over-all narrator. Add on Jim Cavizel whose best performance was as Jesus in “The Passion of the Christ” once again performing as Jesus - John Voight who many remember from the movies: “Deliverance,” “Midnight Cowboy,” “The Odessa Files,” “Transformers” etc. performs as Abraham the Patriarch of the Jews.

Richard Dreyfuss, who we know from “Jaws,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and the hit film “The Goodbye Girl” is cast as the biblical Moses, the bearer of bad news for the Egyptians. Gary Sinise portrays King David, Jason Alexander as Joseph who went from most favored son to being sold as a slave to Egypt, Luis Gosset Jr. who I learned chose acting over playing for the New York Knicks, is cast as the disciple John. Stacy Keach who you might remember if you’re old enough as the character Detective Mike Hammer from TV, plays St. Paul, one of my Bible heroes.  Max Von Sydow portrays Noah who goes from the “town joke” to “Survivor.” In this work of audio art, Marissa Tomei is cast as Mary Magdalene, Marcia Gay Harden is Queen Esther, John Ryhs-Davies is Saul, Lou Diamond Philips who starred in “La Bamba: The Ritchie Valens Story,” “Stand and Deliver,” as well as “Young Guns,” is the New Testament apostle Mark, while Harry Hamlin from “Clash of the Titans” and “L.A Law” performs as Nehemiah the prophet who rebuilds the walls of Israel.

Given that radio audio drama is “faceless,” it is also no respecter of race or color and as a result roles can inter-change or defy standards of race and roles. For the part of Simon called Peter, we hear the great performance of Ernie Hudson well known as one of the original Ghost Busters, Winston Zeddemore. Another pleasant “surprise from the past” is the actor who portrays the apostle James whose main teaching is about disciplining the tongue and what we speak into our life. And the role went to…John Schneider a.k.a Bo Duke from “The Dukes of Hazard”!

Joining “Bo” is another heart throb from the past, Luke Perry, who portrays Judas the guy who runs out of friends. If you can’t recall who John Heard is, check out “Home Alone,” “Beaches” and “The Pelican Brief.” For his part, he got to be Matthew (the tax collector) and writer of one of the main gospels. The list also includes Rebecca St. James, a multi-awarded Christian Music Artist, who in spite of her prominence humbly takes the small role of a servant girl.

So in case you feel led to seek real scripture that is inspiring and pleasant to listen to, go and download the Word Of Promise Bible audio. I play it while reading the Bible and it certainly adds depth and dimension to the experience of going from a simple script to the living scripture.

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