Tonight, my mom and I attended La Posada at the local seminary. It was, apparently, the first time they had hosted one, but we both were glad we had found out about it and went – it was great. I hadn’t attended one for, possibly, 13 years, and I really like the tradition.
For those who don’t know, Posada means “Inn”, like the hotel. La Posada is an event where, as a group, everyone goes around to various pre-determined spots and does a sort of reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s journey and efforts to find a place to stay and for the baby to be born. They ask and are rejected at multiple spots before finally being welcomed into the final location. There are prayers and songs and easy walking, and it is a bizarrely wonderful time.
What was odd about it this time for me, however, was the I was pregnant, expecting my own child to arrive in only five weeks. So, I had moments where the walking was very difficult for me, and I was able to connect in new ways to Mary’s experience doing all of this moving about. Sure, she rode the donkey, but I would imagine she didn’t always ride it. How could she stand being in the position for so long?
Ironically, no one rode the donkey tonight. It just wakes along with us and the dressed-up teenage Mary and Joseph (also an odd feeling to consider that they likely were appropriately cast tonight in terms of their ages). The Mary, of course, was not pregnant. I imagined at first that I could have played a good Mary, until I realized that I’m basically double the age Mary was when she was carrying the baby Jesus. That aside, though, I look very perfect physically to play a pregnant Mary right now.
Hmm… any last-minute Christmas pageants or nativity scenes need me??
Thank you, God, for guiding us to this event tonight. Thank you for the delicious and unexpected Mexican Coca-Cola that was ice cold and perfect. Please, guide the seminarians to see clearly your will in their lives, and grant that they follow it with ease. Release them of what holds them back from following your will with ease. Make me and the baby and my husband well, please, and whole, and keep us safe. Thank you for our home and this life and its love. Please, keep my husband and my brother safe in their flying. In your name, I pray. Amen.
Post-a-day 2024
hannah ananas 