With time running out

Haiku for decisions

With time running out

Jesus knew that he must go

to Jerusalem.

The company came

to a Samaritan town,

but they were rebuffed.

Why Jerusalem?

If you’re only passing through

don’t bother to stay.

We should punish them;

call down fire! said James and John.

Jesus rebuked them.

I will follow you,

a man said. Foxes have holes,

but I am homeless.

I will follow you,

a man said, but I must wait

for father to die.

The dead must bury

their own. Leave them, you must go

proclaim God’s kingdom.

I will follow you,

but first I must say farewell

to my family.

To plough a straight line

you cannot keep looking back;

likewise the kingdom.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Gerasene contry

Haiku for crazy people

Gerasene country:

among the tombs and the swine,

the broken man roams.

Naked to the world,

cut off from society

he is in torment.

With shackles and chains

they have tried to restrain him.

The man is too strong.

When Jesus arrives

Legion comes to confront him,

bringing his demons.

Whether it’s demons,

mental illness, brain damage;

he still needs healing.

The swine dash headlong

into the lake, carrying

dark spirits with them.

The towns-people came

and found the man clothed and sane,

sitting with Jesus.

Please leave us Jesus,

it’s all too much, we’re frightened!

So he departed.

Let me come with you,

the man begged. No, said Jesus,

Go, declare God’s deeds.

So the man went home

restored; to live, to love, and

to tell his story.

© Ken Rookes 2019

One and three.

Grappling haiku

They call it myst’ry

this trinity thing, holding

concepts in tension.

After all these years

I still don’t really get it.

I don’t think God minds.

Think how Parent God,

with Jesus and the Spirit,

strangely coalesce.

One God, three persons,

traditional formula:

all else heresy!

Does our imagined

God monitor errant thoughts;

scoring our faith?

Perhaps I also

am heretic. Woe is me!

Or does it matter?

The truth that matters:

God somehow strangely present

in our loving deeds.

O Holy Spirit,

Divine Parent and His Son,

let me live in you.

© Ken Rookes 2019

The Spirit will come

Haiku of promise

They sing lots of songs,

sweet romantic songs of love,

to Jesus on high.

Do you cringe at them,

those romantic songs of love,

Jesus, Son of Man?

If we love Jesus

it’s not about singing songs,

but obedience.

Pouring his Spirit

on the ones who prove their love,

doing what he says.

The Spirit will come

to abide in and with you,

present in my place.

He stands beside you,

an advocate and teacher,

recalling my words.

I give you my peace,

my Spirit and my presence

to guide your living.

When the troubles come

let your hearts rise above them;

do not be afraid.

© Ken Rookes 2019