A Time for Alliances

This morning, which is the Christian festival of Pentecost…when the Apostles, Mary, and other followers of Jesus were gathered in a upper room and received the blessing of the Holy Spirit…I picked up a book that I’m fond of. It’s called “Cuando llegas” (literal translation: “When you arrive”) and it’s a book of poetry by a prolific and gifted writer, who also happens to be a Jesuit Priest.

I opened it randomly and this was the poem that I read…for the first time. It seemed very appropriate for today and the festival that the Christian church is celebrating…marking the end of the 50-day Easter period. So I reproduce it below, in both Spanish and English, in case it speaks to anyone else.

Tiempo de alianzas

Hagamos un pacto:
Tú tenme paciencia,
que yo tendré valor,
y entonaremos un canto
como nunca se ha oído.
 
Tú pones la fortaleza,
yo la debilidad.
Y envueltos en tu abrazo,
nos lanzaremos
a buscar la justicia.
 
Tú pones el horizonte,
yo la pasión.
Y hombro con hombro,
hacia ese destino
orientaremos la vida.

Hagamos un pacto:
Tú pones la Verdad,
yo la inquietud.
Tu verdad
y mi inquietud
se enlazarán
en la búsqueda más eterna.

Tú pones la Palabra,
y yo el balbuceo.
Y entre escuchas,
eco y silencios
daremos voz al misterio.

Tú pones la ternura,
yo, cinco panes
y dos peces.
Se saciará el hambre de tantos,
y aún sobrarán doce cestos.

Tú pones la misericordia,
yo algunos aciertos,
y bastantes tropiezos.
Y en la escuela del perdón
brotará la sabiduría.
 
Hagamos un pacto:
tú quédate a mi lado,
y yo bailaré contigo.

 José María Rodríguez Olaizola, sj


A Time for Alliances

Let us make a pact:
Be patient with me,
and I will be courageous,
and we shall sing a song
like has never been heard before.
 
You provide the strength,
I the weakness.
And wrapped in your embrace,
we shall set out
in search of justice.
 
You provide the horizon,
I the passion.
And shoulder to shoulder,
towards that destiny
we shall direct our lives.

Let us make a pact:
You provide the Truth,
I the restlessness.
Your truth
and my restlessness
shall intertwine
in the most eternal quest.

You provide the Word,
and I the stammering.
And amidst listening,
echoes and silences,
we shall give voice to the mystery.

You provide the tenderness,
I, five loaves
and two fishes.
The hunger of so many will be sated,
and twelve baskets will remain.

You provide the mercy,
I, a few successes,
and quite a few stumbles.
And in the school of forgiveness,
wisdom will spring forth.
 
Let us make a pact:
you stay by my side,
and I will dance with you.

 José María Rodríguez Olaizola, SJ