God's good fast

Haiku for our times

They are pretending,

like we do, to be righteous

while ignoring God.

They humble themselves,

(so they say!) They are fasting;

why won’t God see them?

Concerned for themselves

while exploiting their workers;

quarrels and fighting.

Your pious displays,

your fasting, sackcloth, ashes:

God isn’t impressed.

God’s good fast is this:

confront injustice and free

those who are oppressed.

You have bread; share it.

Bring the homeless to your house;

cover the naked.

You will shine with light.

You will be restored; and God

will answer your call.

Give the hungry food,

do justice; your light shall rise

and God will guide you.

You’ll be like gardens

watered by unfailing springs;

God will raise you up.

© Ken Rookes 2023

What God wants

Haiku

The list of blessings.

is long, matched only by that

of Israel’s failings.

God calls the mountains

to hear the case that is made

against the people.

Tell: what have I done,

asks God, that you should weary

of my loving care?

Always I acted

to save and deliver you;

and this is your thanks?

Forget burnt off’rings,

calves and rams by the thousand;

these won’t make it right.

Sacrifice won’t work,

even giving your firstborn

can’t take sin away

You know what God wants.

Justice, kindness; that’s it! And

walk humbly with God.

© Ken Rookes 2023

From the beginning

From the beginning

From the beginning as continents drifted

God’s Spirit hovered over this land;

sculpting, renewing; rock, tree and lizard,

rainforest richness, waves crashing on sand.

Having sung country into existence,

the Spirit calls out: First Peoples, come!

This is your land now, tend and enjoy it,

step with its rhythms, dance to its thrum.

We thank you, Lord, for this ancient wisdom,

feeling the heartbeat, singing its songs;

harvesting grasses, trapping the fishes,

lighting the fires to keep country strong.

We thank you, Lord, for this ancient culture,

generously shared with recently come.

Help us remember, and to acknowledge

centuries of pain and dispossession.

We thank you, Lord, for being there, present

with those who struggle, from country removed;

living in two worlds, seeking a future,

may they find hope and know that they’re loved.

Lord we rejoice in the wonder of songlines;

Spirit connections throughout our wide land.

Welcome love’s offer to journey together,

healing the nation to meet love’s command.

© Ken Rookes. Revised 2024

Freely available for use in worship.

Tune: Bunessan. TiS 156

Reposting with some further amendments, ahead of Sunday 21st January, designated Mourning Sunday by the Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia, being the Sunday before Australia Day, For First Nations people, Australia Day on the 26th of January, (a public holiday), marks the beginning of  the violent dispossession that marked colonisation here in Australia.

Arguing

Haiku for thinking again

A divided church!

The apostle is appalled.

Understandably!

From earliest times

these Christians are arguing;

splitting into groups.

I belong to Paul,

I to Peter, I to Christ!

Is Christ divided?

Was Paul crucified?

Were you baptised in Paul’s name?

Paul’s just the conduit.

Are you arguing

about your theology?

Get back to basics!

It’s about the cross.

Always, says Paul. The power

is in the giving.

Always and only

the cross! Nowhere else is love

so fully revealed.

The foolish message

of sacrifice, grace and love;

this is the gospel!

© Ken Rookes 2023

The Lord had a plan

 

Haiku of the chosen

Before I was born

the Lord had a plan for me.

A disturbing thought.

In my mother’s womb

he gave me my name. I would

be his instrument.

I laboured in vain,

my words went unheard. I trust

God to console me.

I have been chosen

to call God’s scattered people,

Jacob, back to him

God becomes my strength.

A new task; not just Jacob,

but all the nations.

You will be a light;

God says, that my salvation

might reach all the earth.

Despised and abhorred,

God’s messenger will be heard.

All will come to God.

The Lord is faithful;

God’s chosen one will stand proud,

as the nations come.

© Ken Rookes 2023

God's chosen servant

Haiku for a new age

God’s chosen servant,

he on whom God’s spirit rests,

will bring forth justice.

He will quietly

go about God’s work, helping

the weak and broken.

He will persevere,

he will establish justice;

as purposed by God

God who gives us life

calls us, leads us, blesses us

to be light for all.

Called to open eyes,

to set the prisoners free,

from darkness to light.

Former things are gone.

The time is coming for God

to do something new!

Do something new, God!

Stir your people to rise up,

to work for justice!

© Ken Rookes 2023