Aplicação (II Tm 4.19-22)

In the reality of the gospel
The reality of things
Usually takes on other colors

Death here smells like life
Tears sometimes take on yellow contours
And sound festive

In the subversive reality of the gospel
It is by giving that one receives
I know you have been trained
To retain
Success for us is mass retention
But look, Christ's success
Was measured by the level of his emptying

While Paul is in everyone's eyes there in court
Alone, abandoned, dirty, sick
He truly lives his moments of greatest joy
When recounting this episode he lets slip
A small and beautiful song of praise
To him be the glory forever, amen
He has never been so well received as in his solitude
In the reality of the gospel
The reality of things
Usually takes on other colors

We are approaching the last words of this letter
The last recorded words of the great Paul
Indeed, of the poor wretch and imprisoned Paul
Because, in the reality of the gospel
The reality of things
Is different

Greetings to Priscilla and Aquila
And to the household of Onesiphorus
Erastus stayed in Corinth
But I left Trophimus sick in Miletus
Try to come before winter

Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers
Send you greetings
The Lord be with your spirit
Grace be with you

How does a man of God reach the end of his journey?
Paul arrived like this
Apparently alone
But not a drop of bitterness in his heart
Instead, greetings and gratitude
Are exhaled through his words

He mentions dear friends
With whom he shared important moments in faith
Priscilla and Aquila who had already shared a missionary road with Paul
Onesiphorus who had already been mentioned by Paul
As someone who encouraged him greatly
He also mentions Erastus
Possibly treasurer in the church in Corinth
A church that seems to have demanded much attention from the apostle
How does a man of God reach the end?

What is Paul busy doing
In the last moments of his journey?
Well, Paul was doing here
What he did throughout his ministry
He's thinking of others
I left Trophimus sick in Miletus

It's almost like seeing Christ there on the cross
In great pain and agony
But still, reserving some time
To take care of his mother
And his youngest disciple
Son, here is your mother
Mother, here is your son

Christ handed his broken-hearted mother
Into the care of John
Paul handed the sick Trophimus
Into the care of his disciple
Who among us would think of someone else
In our time of pain?
Paul thought
Christ did too

Because in the reality of the gospel
The reality of things
Usually takes on other colors

Paul still finds space to mention
Carefully the names of those who
Most likely are his last fruits
Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers
It's like saying
If you get here Timothy and I'm no longer here
Look for these new converts
And that's where we actually get to the end

For those who followed
Frodo's cinematic journey and the Fellowship of the Ring
Remember very well the touching scene that
Was the farewell of this small and brave Hobbit with his friends
But the most emotional moment was the last hug
Frodo looks compassionately at his journey companion Sam
And in solemn silence
The two seem to relive the entire adventure
That took them from the Shire and brought them there

It is precisely at this point
In the story of Paul and Timothy that we arrive
In the next sentences are Paul's last hug to his son Timothy

And he could wish that Timothy
Would do very well in life
Have many friends and everything else
But that's not what Paul wishes for Timothy
Paul knew very well

What saved him from suffering countless times
And suffering here, is not in the sense of death
Because death for Paul is gain
Remember, in the reality of the gospel
The reality of things
Usually takes on other colors

Paul knows very well what to wish for Timothy
Timothy when I was your age
When I was young
I went to God
Desperate
With a thorn that pierced my soul

But God said
Paul, do not worry
My grace is sufficient for you
For my power is made perfect in weakness

And that's what I wish for you Timothy
The undeserved favor of heaven that
Certainly will open the gates of heaven for me
Timothy, may grace be with you

And saying this, the poet's pen rested
The apostle rested eternally
Mission accomplished
His ministry ended

I don't know if Timothy got there before winter
As Paul wished
But the question is if you
Will arrive before winter

Timothy, come quickly