Catching up

After 2 weeks of meetings, recruiting trips, meetings, receptions, meetings, and a final recruiting trip, I returned home just in time to take the group to Acankeh, a small town about 40 minutes from Merida where the townspeople hold an incredible Passion Play on Good Fridays. We arrived just in time to watch the soldiers escort Jesus to see P. Pilate. This is a scene from the meeting with Pilate who then sends Jesus to Herod.

The townspeople play all the parts including those of the townspeople. We happened to talk to Jesus last year just before his performance. He told us he was portraying Jesus for the third time and hoped it would be his last. Alas, this year´s Jesus was also last year´s Jesus.

Here is the scene as Jesus's cross is being raised. Both thieves were already in place even though only one can be seen here. What is most impressive is the sight of the Mayan temple as the backdrop to this most Christian of stories. Jesus is not actually nailed to the cross, but the soldiers make it seem real. The three men remain suspended on their crosses for about 20 minutes and are then taken down.