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Colorado’s sometimes inclement December weather is not particularly conducive to this sort of thing, but in Mexico…one of her oldest Christian celebrations is Las Posadas, created by the Augustinian priest, Fr. Diego de Soria in the late 16th century to introduce Christianity to the New World. Eight homes of local church members are chosen for the eight days prior to Christmas Eve to host a house party, including a piñata to be broken by a child. The piñata represents the devil, who cannot be recognized, and therefore the child is blindfolded. But the child has the rod of virtue, symbolized in the stick provided to break the piñata. When the child perseveres to the end, the glory of God will rain down on everyone, as shown by the candy hidden within the piñata. The homes may also offer cups of hot chocolate, pastries, tamales, or other refreshments to all the guests.

On the appointed evening, people meet at the corner near the home to be visited and process carrying lighted candles and singing as they walk. Mary is typically in the lead, seated on a donkey, with Joseph. Children, dressed as shepherds and the magi, accompany the procession. When the crowd approaches the intentionally darkened house, they knock on the door and engage in a litany between themselves, as the holy family seeking lodging, and the occupants of the house, who welcome them in, with this beautiful expression: ‘Enter, holy pilgrims. Receive this corner not of this humble home only, but of our hearts.’

Prior to the local church’s mass on Christmas Eve, the host home reenacts, through a call and response litany, Joseph and Mary begging the innkeeper to not allow the baby to be born tonight on a street corner, to which the home owner responds by offering the manger, for all the rest of the rooms are already occupied; and then all sing: ‘Gentle Mary laid her child lowly in a manger; there he lay, the undefiled, to the world a stranger. Such a baby in such a place, can he be the Savior? As the saved of all the race who have found his favor.’

At the very heart of a professed Christian nation, whether Mexico or America, there must exist a place for the practice of hospitality, especially to the foreign immigrant, if we are to truly honor our Savior, Jesus. 

PASTOR MARK