Elizabeth will be portraying "Mary Warren" and I will be playing the part of "The Reverend John Hale."  As with most in the play, our characters will have to struggle with the questions of our integrity.  At the end of the day, who are we, as people and people of faith?  And, to what lengths will we go to save our souls, if not ourselves?

 

Without giving too much a way, there is a scene near the end where "Mary" is trying to do right by offering her deposition that the stories of witchcraft in the village were untrue and unfounded.  All the while, the other girls involved with her are mimicking her, thereby giving the impression that Mary, in fact, has demonic power over the girls.  Recognizing that the court wants to believe the tales of witchcraft are true, and she will hang unless she confesses, she recants her honesty and tells the court what it wants to hear, thereby assuring an honest man will die.

 

The horror of Salem, at least as it portrayed by Miller, is that this attack of demonic powers originated not from principalities outside of the community, but from within.  The people of Salem themselves, their religious repression, envy, greed, hysteria, fear, and God knows what else, not some disembodied spiritual force, were the catalysts for their demonic demise.  Their community, which for all intents and purposes was the church, their community was the crucible.

 

In this season of Lent, I would encourage each of us to reflect upon what we are adding to the crucible of our faith community.  In our casual conversations, be they about our church or community, our friends and neighbors or our sisters and brothers in Christ, what are we saying?  Are our words kind and truthful?   Do we seek to build up those of whom we speak or would we be ashamed if they knew what we were saying? Do we speak the truth in love?  In the life choices we make, the things we do and the things we leave undone, what are we doing?  Are we bearing witness to God's love?  Do our actions reflect the beliefs we profess?  If Christ was present (and he is), would we be ashamed for him to see how we spend our time?  Do we love God with all that we are and do we love our neighbors more than we love ourselves?  In our words and deeds, what are we adding to the crucible of faith and life we share?

 

My friends, in no way do I want to give the impression that I am above the need for such reflection.  As we see in Miller's writing, Lucipher often works most effectively through ministers.  Nevertheless, it is my calling to raise such questions for our consideration.  As we journey toward the cross of Jesus Christ, and the new life he offers, I trust each of us will do so with humble and contrite hearts, filled with the assurance and hope that God has implanted in this crucible of life and faith we share. 

 

See you in church!