It’s not every day that I get to talk Jesus, and after the venomous tirade I penned last week I was more than ready for dialogue with the world’s number one proponent of brotherly love.

A cool breeze was in the air as I cruised into Ajijic late Tuesday night. All was calm and quiet as I crossed the plaza, a solitary space save for a few locals were who filling their tummies at the hot dog stand.

I found a livelier scene when I stepped inside the atrium of the parish church where more than two dozen amateur actors and their coaches were finishing a four-hour rehearsal for the town’s upcoming Easter Passion Play. I watched in admiration at the interaction of an odd mix of people.

There were shopkeepers, service guys and professionals of different ilks, huddled at the gate, ready to step forward as the crowd of Pharisees who demand the crucifixion of the doomed Man from Nazareth. Across the yard a dozen teenage students stood shoulder to shoulder at stiff attention, practicing their parts as tough guy Roman soldiers keeping the throng at bay.

Posed on the steps above them, a top echelon city hall official was belting out his lines for the odious role of Pontius Pilate. The fellows playing his prison guards appeared behind him, carrying whips to fine tune their performance in the brutal flagellation scene.

As the group broke up to head homeward, I approached a slender 30-something fellow distinguished by his long locks, scraggly beard, chiseled face and piercing black eyes. He was dressed in a windbreaker, jeans and blood red athletic shoes.

He is Stephan Lherminier González, Ajijic native and architect by trade, who will play the protagonist in the religious spectacle that will staged in episodes running on four dates between Palm Sunday and Holy Saturday.

Although Stephan has been involved in the Pasión de Cristo production periodically since childhood, he has usually participated behind the scenes on the set construction crew or as a go-fer for the traditional village fair the group organizes on the Palm Sunday.

Last year Pasión de Cristo founder Lalo Ramos recruited him to tackle the lead role. Eight months ago he stopped shaving and began letting his hair grow. In October he began a strict dietary regime, a running routine and cross-fit training to prepare for the physical rigors of the part.

As he set to memorizing extensive dialogue, Lalo coached him on the historical context of the religious drama. He and other members of the cast attended sessions with San Andrés associate priest Padre Evaristo for spiritual guidance.

“Before, I took the texts of the Gospel in a literal sense. Padre Everardo has helped us better understand the teachings of Jesus as metaphor,” Stephan explains. “We have learned that underlying the story of his death and resurrection is a message of love.”

He is hanging on that concept to muster mental and physical strength and overcome first-time actor jitters to convey the deeper meaning of Easter to his audience. “Love your neighbor as yourself.”