Love That Risks Everything
by Rev. Dr. Lydia Esther Muñoz
Las Posadas is a cherished tradition celebrated in Mexico and throughout many Latino communities across the world during the nine days leading up to Christmas, December 16–24. The word posadas means “lodging” or “shelter,” and the ritual reenacts the journey of Mary and Joseph as they search for a place to stay in Bethlehem before Jesus’ birth.
It is, in many ways, the quintessential immigrant story—a story of displacement, uncertainty, and the yearning to be welcomed.
But perhaps Las Posadas invites us to go even deeper. What if, rather than seeing the pilgrims only as humble figures meekly asking for entry, we recognize the radical courage in their persistence? What if Las Posadas is not only about the hospitality of the homeowner, but also about the unwavering dignity of those who stand at the door?
Traditionally, those who accompany Mary and Joseph dress simply and process from house to house, singing a call-and-response song that reflects the unfolding tension between the travelers and the innkeepers.
The exchange begins:
Pilgrims:
In the name of heaven,
Can you give us lodging?
My dear wife’s exhausted
After hours of walking.
Innkeepers:
This is not an inn.
I don’t take in strangers.
You might be a robber.
I can’t risk that danger.
Pilgrims:
Do not be so heartless!
Help us, we implore you.
God, who sees from heaven,
Surely will reward you.
Innkeepers:
I cannot assist you.
Find someone who can.
Leave now or I warn you,
You will wish you had.
The song continues in this back-and-forth until the innkeepers finally recognize who has been standing outside all along—not strangers, not threats, but the Holy Family. Shocked and humbled, they apologize and open their home.
The beauty of Las Posadas lies in the reversal. It is not merely a story of poor, powerless pilgrims hoping for mercy—it is the story of people who know their worth so deeply that they continue to knock, even after being rejected. Their persistence is not desperation—it is holy conviction.
Mary and Joseph embody a truth that transcends circumstance:
We are created in the image of God. We deserve refuge, dignity, and welcome.
Las Posadas teaches that transformation doesn’t happen only when the door finally opens—it begins when hearts recognize the sacredness standing right outside.
The song concludes with overflowing hospitality—not a temporary place for the night, but an invitation into lasting belonging:
Enter, enter, holy pilgrims, holy pilgrims,
Welcome to my humble home.
Though it’s little I can offer, I can offer,
All I have—please call your own.
Mary, Joseph, and our Savior, and our Savior,
What a joy to have you here!
We are honored to receive you; may you stay through all the year!
Las Posadas calls us to more than reenactment. It calls us to recognition.
To courage.
To radical welcome.
To the kind of hospitality that sees divinity not just in the familiar—but in the ones still waiting at the door.
Amen, and may we be a people who open wide the gates.
Rev. Dr. Lydia Esther Muñoz
Rev. Dr. Lydia Esther Muñoz is an Ordained Elder in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she has served over the past 20 years. She graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor's in psychology and Women's Studies and a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew Theological School in Public Theology. Her dissertation focused on Decolonizing and Decentering whiteness in Christian worship.
Dr. Muñoz has extensive experience developing ministries of justice among marginalized and multicultural communities of all ages and backgrounds, has served as a consultant for multi-ethnic ministries and is a life-long member of MARCHA (Metodista Representando la Causa Hispano/Latino). Dr. Muñoz has also served as a mental health therapist working primarily with adjudicated young people in the school system dealing with emotional and physical trauma.
Dr. Muñoz has led and designed worship for 20+ years in varied and diverse settings, both locally and nationally, including for the World Council of Churches Assembly in South Korea in 2013, the United Methodist General Conference in 2012, and the Festival of Sacred Arts in Falstbo, Sweden. She is a published author and contributor to Abingdon Preacher's Manual 2019 and 2020 and various Christian liturgy and worship journals and other advocacy journals.
Currently, Rev. Muñoz serves as the Executive Director of the El Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry of the United Methodist Church, a 30+ year ministry of "acompañamiento" for annual conferences in the ministry with Hispanic/Latino communities