In the Mission District of SF, Las Posadas just began nine nights before Christmas Eve. Children process down 24th Street, some with lighted candles in hand and others carrying on their shoulders statues of Mary and Joseph. Each Advent, the young and the old reenact the story of Joseph seeking lodging for his young to be wife, Mary, who is weary from travel and heavy with child. For nine nights in a row, children and adults assume the identity of the weary couple or the innkeepers, processing around the inside of the church or throughout the neighborhood, moving from one designated site to the next. This is called Las Posadas.
At each station, and ancient exchange is repeated. Those playing the role of Joseph approach the inn, knock on the door, and say in a loud voice, “En nombre del cielo, Buenos moradores, dad a unos viajeros posada esta noche.” This means “In the name of God, we ask those who dwell here, give to some travelers lodging this evening.”
From inside, a chorus of voices responds, “Aqui no es meson sigan adelante, yo no puedo abrir no sea algun tunante.” This means “This is not an inn; move on—I cannot open lest you be a scoundrel.” As Joseph moves from one inn to the next, the innkeepers grow angry and even threaten violence, while the night grows colder and the young couple’s weariness turns to exhaustion.
Vienimous rendidos desde Nazareth, yo soy carpintero de nombre Jose—We are tired traveling from Nazareth; I am a carpenter named Joseph. Finally, he even reveals his wife’s true identity, begging for posada for just one night to no avail.
For eight more days, the scene is reenacted. Finally on the ninth day, the eve of Christmas, Joseph’s request moves the heart of an innkeeper, who offers the young couple all that he has left—a stable. This humble place becomes the birthplace of Jesus. In an outpouring of joy and festivity, those gathered on the final night celebrate the generosity of the innkeeper and the posada given to Mary and Joseph in song and dance, food and drink. Candy and treats from the piñata shower the children, and the community recalls anew how the stranger at one’s door can be God in disguise.
Posada means shelter.
Every December, Hispanic communities relive in their flesh the Gospel truth that the “Word became flesh and lived among us” He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.” (John 1:10-11). In Las Posadas, they ritually participate in being rejected and being welcomed, in slamming the door on the needy and opening it wide. They are in this way renewed in the Christian practice of hospitality, the practice of providing a space where the stranger is taken in and known as one who bears gifts.
For Hispanics and Latinos who were once refugees, Las Posadas reminds them of their own experience as strangers. The community affirms the goodness of taking people in, and those who once needed posada are reminded to offer it to others.
As Asian Americans, most of us are merely one or two generations away from being a refugee or an immigrant. Las Posadas reminds us on how people have taken us in and to offer hospitality to others.
The donation we brought and dedicated tonight to the Berkeley Shelter is offering posada to others in need today.
In similar ways, the reason why we light up our homes with strings of lights is to offer posada to the stranger to come in. Symbolically, it’s been said that lights are for the magi to find the Christ Child.
At this time of the year, there’s too much food! We welcome each other as well as the stranger to eat at our table to practice hospitality.
Biblical Traditions
Since the Israelites were exiled and enslaved in Egypt, they were refugees, wandering in a wilderness. They were instructed to love the stranger because they were once strangers in a foreign land.
“When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien.
The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you
shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the
Lord, your God.” (Leviticus 19:33-34)
In the New Testament, we see Martha hosting Jesus and wearing herself out. Jesus turned water into wine to help the host be hospitable. The Apostle Paul met with house churches and nourished hospitality in them. Paul said, “Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.” (Romans 12:13)
And finally, in Hebrews 13:2, we read “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hospitality not only welcomes the strangers; it also recognizes their holiness. It sees in the stranger a person dear to and made in the image of God, someone bearing distinctive gifts that only he or she can bring.
For the past few years because of allergies, we stopped having a green Christmas tree and opted for this silver tree centerpiece. Every year, we select only some of our many years of accumulated ornaments to display. The theme of this year’s tree is “Things that move.” This symbolizes that traveling people need posada. May we welcome the strangers in and provide them shelter for this is what God has commanded.
Let us pray.