Transcription

[Candida Long]

Welcome to Bridgeway Christian Church's Daily Advent Prayer. My name is Candida Long and I have been part of the Bridgeway community for almost five years. Today is Thursday, December 18th.

Today and every Thursday during Advent we pass to highlight one way our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world welcome the light of the world. As we listen and learn may our hearts be enlarged by the beauty of the global church and the fullness of the same spirit who gathers us all into one family. Today our journey takes us to Mexico and Central America where believers prepare for Christmas through a celebration called Las Posadas.

In Spanish, Las Posadas means the inns or shelters. For nine nights before Christmas family and neighbors walk through their communities by candlelight singing songs that tell the story of Mary and Joseph searching for a place to stay in Bethlehem. At each door they ask for lodging and are thrown away until finally one home opens wide.

The crowd bursts into song, laughter fills the courtyard and the night becomes a festival of joy. Children break star shaped piñatas symbolizing the light that led the Magi. Food is shared, prayers are lifted and the story of Christ's coming is retold once again.

This tradition echoes an ancient promise, one first spoken by the prophet Zechariah. Rejoice greatly daughter Zion, shout daughter Jerusalem, see your king comes to you righteous and victorious. Humble and riding on a donkey he will proclaim peace to the nations.

Zechariah's words were a call to joy not because everything was easy but because the king of peace was on his way. In Las Posadas that same joy is sung from door to door. Joy that rises out of hope, joy that believes God will find a way to enter our weary world once more.

Joy in scripture is never shallow, it's not denial, it's defiance. The light that refuses to go out. When the doors open in Las Posadas it's a picture of that very truth.

Christ comes and every closed door can become a place of welcome. The humble king has arrived bringing peace from sea to sea. And maybe that's where joy begins for us too in a simple act of making room for Jesus again, of opening our hearts to his quiet joyful reign.

Because when we welcome him in he brings the same gift he promised through Zechariah. Peace that stretches farther than we can imagine. Joy that reaches to the ends of the earth.

Let's pray together inspired by the brothers and sisters who celebrate Las Posadas with songs of welcome and joy. Lord Jesus our humble king we rejoice greatly for you have come to us righteous and victorious yet gentle and near. Thank you for the joy that fills the homes of those who celebrate Las Posadas and for the songs of welcome.

Thank you for the joy that fills the homes of those who celebrate Las Posadas. For their songs of welcome, their open doors and the reminders that true joy is found in making room for you. Teach us to rejoice like them, to find joy not in comfort but in pure presence.

Not in abundance but in hospitality, not in control but in surrender to the one who brings peace. Let your rule extend from sea to sea, from our homes to the nations, from our hearts to every heart that longs for light. We pray this in your name.

Amen.