para enseñar (In Order To Train” (Matt.11:4) [Spanish Jerusalem Bible series – Matthew 10 sub series]

I love the way Christ did His task –
Instructed twelve, and then He passed
Through towns they lived in, training folks
As well as preaching, telling jokes –

Or things He did as “Happy Guy”
Who came to move us from a sigh
To joy complete, fulfilled in Him,
As we our Kingdom-lives begin.

But enseñar in Spanish text
I like, because it tells us best
How we can do our jobs as well –
“Get in and show them, don’t just tell”.

His task may not be quite the same
As ours – like curing blind and lame;
But lesson holds for all – like me –
“Don’t tell, show them, so all can see”.

As writer, that’s a standard line –
“Get in and show, don’t tell – refine
Your text in edit stage, make clear
Your point – with words bring each scene near”.

Christ used a four – twelve – seven-two,
Way to train trainers how to do
The task of raising folks to task
Of training others – world is vast –

So, four train eight (two pairs train four);
Then they are trained to train them more –
Four pairs train on, as they are trained
In training trainers – new skills gained.

First time He did the “Seven-two”
It bombed, but then Christ sent anew,
Them out, this time they brought Him joy –
It worked! (Jerusalem, ahoy!).

Our “Happy Guy” was glad indeed!
His presence they’d no longer need –
Self-replicating down-line team,
Who trained more trainers – so it seems.

So Spanish brings that way out best –
Christ preached, and trained to train the rest,
So when they wiped Him out that day
(First Easter) – they pressed on that way.

Of course, they stumbled at the shock,
But with assurance, did not balk
At taking on new life and task
Of training folks for world so vast.

Lord, thanks for this so timely word –
Four, twelve, and seven-two are heard
So loud and clear in Spanish text,
Articulating what comes next.

What’s next? Why pressing on once more –
To use a phrase the French adore,
A partir de maintenant, they say;
That’s “From now on”, to us today.

But looking closer, “Now” means this –
Maintenant like “Maintenance” resists
The tendency to “Hold the line” –
“Press on, press on – to life sublime”.

From now on we will not “Maintain”
The status quo (just stay the same);
No! From now on we’ll start to train
Folks how to train, not just maintain.

Thanks Lord for this.

navigation