The choice

Haiku of testing

Forty days and nights

in the wilderness, driven

by the wild Spirit.

A time of testing,

hunger and doubt. Who am I,

what am I to do?

The testing man comes

with his tempting offers: Turn

these stones into bread!

You can have it all;

the power and the glory.

Worship me; it’s yours!

Make a big display!

Throw yourself from this tower.

Angels will catch you!

No. I will not take

the easy road. Love’s pathway

is not without pain.

My course is from God;

I choose it, it chooses me;

and the suffering.

The tester departs.

leaves him alone with his thoughts.

At least, for a time.

© Ken Rookes 2022

Heaven has come close

Haiku of illumination

Four of them, climbing

the mountain of destiny;

Jesus and some mates.

While he was praying

his face became altered, white,

dazzling and bright.

A conversation,

Moses, Elijah, Jesus,

speaking of the end.

Heaven has come close,

the divine and the human

weaving together.

There is glory here,

a glimpse before the end, when

fullness is revealed.

The descending cloud

overshadows, a voice speaks;

My Son: hear his words!

The cloud lifts. Only

Jesus remains. He tells them,

Do not speak of this.

Only at the end,

Beyond the cross and the tomb

will they understand.

© Ken Rookes 2022

Loving the enemy

 

Haiku for thinking again

Love your enemies.

Christians who play politics

must hate these verses.

When you’re addicted

to power you must put these

teachings on the shelf.

Generosity

and forgiveness, stumbling blocks

for the self-righteous.

Bless those who curse you,

turn the other cheek. Give stuff

away. Yeah, that works!

Deal with others

the way that you would like them

to deal with you.

Loving family

and friends is easy; any

ratbag can do that!

Be children of God

who blesses the wicked, too.

Give; expect nothing.

Be full of mercy.

Don’t judge, or condemn. Forgive,

just as you have been.

So many judge-y

Christians, ‘holier than thou,’

ignoring Jesus.

As you bless others

so you are blest. You decide;

become a blessing.

© Ken Rookes 2022

Be blessed

 

Haiku of reversal

They came to hear him;

a great crowd eager to learn,

and to be healed.

The unclean spirits,

whatever we make of them;

he dealt with them, too.

He pronounced blessings,

surprising, unexpected;

Blessed are you poor!

You who are hungry,

you will be filled! Strong echoes

of his mother’s song!

You who are hated,

becoming unpopular

for my sake, are blest.

Corresponding woes

are spelled out: You who laugh, must

take your turn to weep.

You who are wealthy

are going to miss out. You

have had your blessings.

The poor and the weak

heard his words with joy. Less so

the privileged ones!

© Ken Rookes 2022