Wise men from the East

Wise men from the East

Haiku of adoration

Wise men from the East,

so an old story tells us,

came seeking a king.

A child has been born

who will rule over Judah;

we have seen his star.

In Jerusalem

they make their inquiries.

Herod is alarmed.

Those who have power

become anxious at the thought

that they might lose it.

Calling a meeting

of the chief priests and the scribes,

Herod seeks answers.

Bethlehem, they say.

According to the prophet,

Bethlehem’s the place.

Go to Bethlehem,

and when you do find the child

come, report to me.

They locate the boy,

bow down in adoration,

and give him their gifts.

Gold for a king’s crown

frankincense to worship him,

myrrh for his dying.

Proving their wisdom

the men, having found the child,

choose a new way home.

© Ken Rookes 2018

The boy Jesus

He was twelve years old

when he went with his fam’ly

to Jerusalem.

Nobody missed him

amidst all the confusion

of the festival.

The fam’ly heads home.

A day into the journey

they note his absence.

At last they find him

sitting among the teachers

in the great temple.

The twelve year old boy

holds his own with his questions

and his perception.

They were astonished,

his parents. They chastised him,

Why have you done this?

Why did you seek me?

You should have known where to look;

in my Father’s house.

In twenty years’ time.

He will return for the feast

and the conclusion.

© Ken Rookes 2018

To Bethlehem we come

The course of the Advent and its violet road-map

was determined two millennia ago.

We who claim our places among his disciples

walk the Coming-Season’s famous annual path to Bethlehem.

Was he even born there?

Perhaps / probably not:

it doesn’t matter.

We tread our Advent road toward Bethlehem

to meet with shepherds and other disrerputable people

to sing the songs of the coming of our friend and mentor.

We travel, recalling those irresistible demands of the ancient bureaucracy

to be counted, numbering ourselves

among those blessed to share in his suffering.

We bypass Jerusalem,

knowing that there are many places where truth is hidden,

that deeper truth awaits its revelation,

and that our ultimate destination will, one day,

include that great and troubled city.

Our journeying eyes search out inns and stables,

knowing that God and Spirit and other mysteries

will be found in the most unlikely places.

The city of David calls to us with the power of its history,

but we come, knowing that the new story being birthed

will be a far deeper drama

of love, generosity and sacrifice.

To Bethlehem we make our Advent journey,

with gratitude, wonder, and trepidation.

© Ken Rookes 2018

In stables and sheds

In stables and sheds,

kitchens and loungerooms

where trees are trimmed and illuminated

and nativuty scenes erected,

and where they are not;

where questions are asked

and objections raised,

where humans struggle

and sometimes doubt,

where the downtrodden gather

to become schooled in resistance,

where infants dance with delight and wonder

and old people pause to reflect,

where children are reckless enough to claim their voices

and challenge their elders,

where the just discover their anger

and politeness gives way to righteous insistence,

where generosity, compassion and hope reassert themselves

to confront the greed, brutality and fear at the centre of the universe;

here, in these places

among earth’s dust and straw,

and in many places like them

the Logos of God will be,

is being, born,

to shine again,

defiantly

in the darkness.

© Ken Rookes 2018

The birth

Haiku of wonder

When a king is born

the stories must reflect it

with wonder and awe.

Apart from angels,

this narrative is humble,

with a common cast.

Comes to Bethlehen,

the tradie with his girl-bride,

about to give birth.

A shed out the back

of a packed-out small-town pub.

Nothing flash in that!

A son is born, wrapped

in cloth strips and put to bed

in a feeding trough.

Shepherds get the news:

the Messiah has been born,

look for a baby.

This will be the sign:

a baby in a manger,

in David’s city.

The shepherds decamped

to see for themselves the child,

as they had been told.

They told ev’ryone

about the child, the one born

to save his people.

© Ken Rookes. 2018

The great song of announcing

Haiku that lead to fulfilment.

Mary went in haste

to visit Elizabeth

at home in the hills

Two women embrace,

both pregnant, feeling wonder

and knowing the joy.

They cry and they sing

their songs of expectation;

the world is pregnant.

The young woman’s song

filled with its socialist themes

won’t win many friends.

The proud are scattered;

powerful kings and rulers

brought down from their thrones.

And yet the lowly,

cast aside, will be lifted

and the hungry filled.

And what of the rich?

They have had it all; send them

away wih nothing.

A promise of hope

for the people who struggle:

The new realm comes!

All old promises

will achieve their fulfilment

in the One who comes.

© Ken Rookes 2018

The crowds were coming

Haiku of anticipation

The crowds were coming.

They’d heard he was baptising.

Come! Begin again!

John was a preacher,

among other things. Repent!

Produce righteous fruits!

You brood of vipers!

he cried to the hypocrites

who came, pretending.

Your historical

entitlement is ending;

bear the fruits of love.

What then should we do?

they asked him. Learn how to share;

spread the love around.

Tax collectors came.

Don’t collect more than you should.

Treat people fairly.

Soldiers came, seeking.

Don’t exploit your position;

wages are enough.

People were asking:

Could he be the promised one

that God is sending?

That one is coming.

I have baptised with water;

he brings the Spirit.

© Ken Rookes 2018

When the time was ripe

Haiku of anticipation

When the time was ripe

he came. John the forerunner,

preaching, baptizing.

Across the region

his message was heard: Repent

and be forgiven!

In the wilderness

a voice was heard, crying out:

Prepare the Lord’s way!

Metaphorical

earthworks describe a coming,

wond’rous, bringing life.

Paths will be straightened,

mountains and hills made level,

valleys shall be filled.

Rough ways will be smoothed

and all humankind shall see

God’s full salvation.

Get yourselves ready!

Make the most of this new thing

that God is doing!

© Ken Rookes 2018