To the Band of Brothers: Advent Edition
My mother’s parents lived in Spain. Natives of Galicia, they moved to Cuba when they were young and then returned after being exiled. My mother eventually married my dad in Madrid and moved to Miami. My grandparents, though, stayed behind. While I missed having them here all the time, the summers were great because we would travel to Spain to visit. They would also make their way to Miami.
On those occasions, the world came to a stop and all eyes, ears, and noses were focused on their visit. Most intense was the preparation for their visit. My brother Manny and I were kicked out of our room and our beds were pushed together to provide them a place to stay. My mother would make her way to the Grand Union Supermarket to buy all the things she knew they loved to eat and drink. Our refrigerator and pantry would be stocked and we were given strict orders not to touch any of those items bought especially for them.
While we all were given tasks to get the house ready for their visit, most of the prep work was delegated to my father. His honey-do list grew exponentially, leaving the house in tip-top shape for their arrival. While it was a lot of work, the overwhelming feeling was one of great joy and excitement. Our grandparents were coming to town.
Advent is like this. For roughly four weeks, the Church prepares itself to celebrate the arrival of the greatest guest the world has ever known. The incarnation of God is the greatest manifestation of His love for each and every one of us. It begins from the moment Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary and culminates with his death on the cross. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16).
So, here is the question we have to ask ourselves: what are we doing to prepare our homes for the arrival of Jesus? We cannot let this season of Advent pass without preparing ourselves for his birth. This is a time for spiritual renewal. We need to create a spiritual “honey-do list.” If we haven’t gone to confession in a while, this is a great time to do it. If we have been inconsistent in going to Mass on Sundays, this is a great time to get back to it. If we haven’t been praying as often as we should, this is a great time to start.
I once read that greater than the day man stepped on the moon was the day God stepped on the earth. That day was Christmas. To receive that day simply with blinking lights, cards, and stockings falls shamelessly short of what the true preparation for Jesus’s birth should be. I encourage you to take your holiday prep a step further. As a family, get everyone involved in Advent so that the true meaning of Christmas takes root in your hearts, minds, and lives.
Auspice Maria.
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: communications@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: communications@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba, by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the school's property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit is situated on a 34-acre site in western Dade County, just minutes away from downtown Miami.