Not me, him!

 Haiku for an immersion

Could he be the one?

The question upon all lips

when it came to John.

Not me, he protests.

Water is what I deal with;

fire is his gift.

He brings God’s Spirit,

blessings and judgement. Prepare

to make him welcome.

Among baptism’s

candidates stands one Jesus,

ready to begin.

As he prays, God’s dove-

shaped Spirit descends on him,

He must be the one!

A voice from heaven

expressed divine approval:

My beloved Son!

Great significance!

Luke gives us this dripping man,

sharing his wetness.

© Ken Rookes 2022

The Baptiser warns

 Haiku of preparation

The Baptiser warns

the crowds who come to hear him.

It is time, repent!

This brood of vipers

come out of fear, to escape

the coming judgement.

Produce in your hearts

and in your deeds, fruits worthy

of your repentance.

Don’t trust in your race

or that you are one of God’s

privileged people.

Share your possessions,

be honest, deal fairly, don’t

abuse your power.

They asked John, Are you

the one who God is sending?

I am not the one.

Not I, but one comes

who will set your souls on fire.

This is my good news.

© Ken Rookes 2021

Prepare

 

haiku of announcement

Located in time

and in space, the arrival

of Baptiser John.

The wilderness voice

of God echoes through John’s head,

compels him to speak.

Turn away from sin!

When they come for his message:

John baptises them

Isaiah wrote it:

A voice shouts in the wild place,

preparing the way.

Earthworks metaphor,

a track is cleared for the one

who brings salvation.

Valleys will be filled

and mountains will be levelled,

the rough ways made smooth.

A big metaphor

for a cosmic happening:

the promised one comes!

© Ken Rookes 2021

At your right and left

Haiku for servants

Teacher, will you grant

whatever we ask of you?

They ask, cunningly.

What is it you want?

He asked brothers James and John

when they came to him.

In your glory time,

grant us to sit at your right

hand, and at your left.

Jesus must have sighed.

You don’t know what you’re asking;

haven’t heard my words.

Can you drink my cup,

or share in my baptism?

Sure we can, Jesus!

Yes, you will follow.

Death will be my baptism,

suffering my cup.

The Gentile rulers

play at power, lording it;

Don't imitate them!

Would you become great?

You must become a servant;

be the slave of all.

The Son of Man came

not to be served, but to serve;

and to give his life.

The sighs continue.

Many still play power games;

refusing to hear.

© Ken Rookes 2021

Come

Haiku for the ready

First, John the Baptist.

Mark moves him from centre-stage,

has him arrested.

Proclaiming good news

Jesus came to Galilee:

The time is fulfilled!

The Kingdom of God

comes nearer with every word

that I speak to you.

Simon and Andrew,

fishing brothers casting nets;

Jesus calls to them.

Come and follow me,

together we will call folk

into God’s kingdom.

We’ll share divine life,

filled with love, shaped by mercy,

transfigured through hope.

Brothers James and John

mending nets on board their boat,

Jesus calls them, too.

So Simon, Andrew,

James and John, hearing the call,

leave their nets behind.

© Ken Rookes 2021

The Word

 

Haiku of the Light.

In the beginning.

John carries us back in time:

God and the Big Bang.

Pushing back beyond

Miriam, Sarah and Eve

to Creation One.

An over-all plan

from the beginning of time:

hope for humankind.

He said, Let Light shine!

And life, light for all people

breaks through the darkness.

John came voicing hope,

to announce the one true light.

He was not the light.

The Light-Hope-Logos,

seed found at creation’s core,

becomes one of us.

Those who receive him,

who take his word deep within,

are made God’s children.

The law has limits.

Jesus brings grace, truth and love;

life comes from these things.

Many speak of God.

Only Jesus, called God’s Son,

truly makes God known.

© Ken Rookes 2020

Make straight the way

 

Haiku to clear the Shadows

He was light’s shadow,

pointing to the shining One

in whose glow he stood.

He is not the light,

but he points to one who comes

that we might know life.

Religious leaders

came to listen, questioning,

Are you he who comes?

Not the Messiah,

nor am I Elijah, or

another prophet.

If none of these, then

who are you? I am a voice

from the wild places.

I’m the voice that shouts,

Make straight the way, be ready

for the Lord who comes.

Among you stands one

far greater than me. You will

know him when he comes.

© Ken Rookes 2020

The good news begins

 

Haiku of commencement

The good news begins

as Jesus, also called Christ,

is waiting offstage.

Voice in wilderness.

Baptiser John, the wild man,

makes the announcement.

The Lord comes! Prepare

to receive him; be ready

to hear his message.

The crowd flocks to John

to hear his repentance call,

to be forgiven.

He is a wild man,

this baptiser; dressed roughly,

living on insects.

Easy to ignore

the impolite, to discard

their uncultured words.

Coming after me

is one far greater; he will

baptise with Spirit.

© Ken Rookes 2020

The word that brings life

Haiku of wholeness

He couldn’t escape.

The people recognised him;

the word spread, they came.

For the miracles

and the healings they gathered,

pleading, insistent.

Wherever he went

they came for the miracles,

more than for his words.

Jump a year or two,

he is no longer with them,

except in Spirit.

At the Lovely Gate

disciples Peter and John:

the lame man begs alms.

Following their Lord

they speak a healing word, pull

off a miracle.

Walking and leaping,

the healed man sang God’s praises.

They were all amazed.

Better than silver,

more valuable than gold;

God’s word that brings life.

© Ken Rookes 2020

Posted in response to the two bible readings from the Narrative Lectionary for the 3rd Sunday of Easter.

Setting the pace

Haiku for getting serious

They were on the road.

Their destination; trouble.

Big Jerusalem

He was leading them,

setting the pace; they held back,

anxious and afraid.

It will get ugly,

he told his friends. Always does

When you challenge them.

They fear my message,

hate me for daring to speak.

They will have their way.

Don’t ask for honour,

honour comes with pain and death.

There are no short-cuts.

The cup is suff’ring,

the baptism, it is death.

Will you still follow?

Will you follow me?

Will you be a slave to all?

Will you give your life?

© Ken Rookes 2020

Some haiku for the Narrative Lectionary, Second Sunday in Lent.

He was in the world

Haiku of the Word

He was in the world;

he whose heartbeat resonates

with earth’s deep rhythms.

They did not know him;

his own people, not seeing

nor receiving him.

They are crying out,

yearning, aching. They will not

come, they will not hear.

He is in the world

at one with God, and with us;

listen to his words.

What will his words be?

Words that challenge and disturb,

turning upside down.

Some were listening,

taking his words deep within,

God’s faithful children.

And the Word became.

one of us, with flesh and blood,

with pain and dying.

Here, then, is wonder;

here is grace and here is truth,

for each one of us.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Becoming flesh

Haiku of wonder

In the beginning.

What a great opening line;

so much could follow.

Logos, more than word;

impossible mystery,

the essence of God.

There at creation,

alongside and one with God,

through whom all things come.

The six days give way

to the big bang universe;

was the Logos there?

Logos, source of life,

light challenging the darkness,

never submitting.

The true light arrives

to enlighten humankind;

may that day come soon!

Somehow mystery

takes flesh, coming among us;

living and dying.

Can you see where he

does touch earth with grace and hope;

will you receive him?

You who receive him

are his sisters and brothers;

children of God’s will.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Doubting in the dark

Haiku of unexpected hope

John the Baptiser

languishing in the dungeon;

doubting in the dark.

Sending out his friends

to find out. Are you the One

or must we still wait?

Return to John, tell

of the things you see and hear;

life in its fullness.

Tell of God’s welcome,

the outsiders who find home,

of friendship’s triumph.

Tell of the confused

who have come to understand;

lives renewed by love.

Tell of the gospel

taking root in aching hearts,

producing much fruit.

Tell of forgiveness

bringing many beginnings,

joy blended with hope.

Tell prophet-man John

that God’s reign is upon us,

and to be at peace.

© Ken Rookes 2019.

The Baptiser cries

Haiku of expectation

The Baptiser cries

loudly his words to repent,

and weeps in silence.

In his op-shop clothes

of camel hair, leather belt,

catches them off-guard!

Make ready, he says;

things are changing, a new day

is about to dawn.

You privileged ones,

presuming on your birthrights;

produce fruits of love.

No place for smugness

you who think you have arrived;

you must live justly.

Flee the coming wrath;

produce fruits of justice, and

generosity.

One is coming soon,

with greater, more powerful

words of hope and life.

He will bring judgement.

There is really no need; we

bring it on ourselves.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Forget the honour

Haiku for disciples

Teacher, will you do

for us whatever we ask?

What is it you want?

Brothers James and John

didn’t get it; asked Jesus

for seats of honour.

In glory may we

sit with you, at your right hand,

and one at your left?

You are asking much,

and you do not understand:

can you drink my cup?

And my baptism;

are you able to share it?

Yes, we are able.

You answer quickly!

In time you will share these hings

and my suffering.

The others saw red!

James and john had gone too far.

Jesus called them in.

Forget the honour,

That’s not the name of this game!

It’s about serving!

Others crave power,

you are not to be like them.;

you must be like me.

© Ken Rookes 2018

My name is John

Haiku for beginning

Give me camel’s hair,

leather belt around my waist;

feed me with locusts.

Give me a loud voice

enough to shake foundations.

Feed me wild honey

Find me at the creek

with the rocks and croaking frogs.

Water is my home.

Put away your sins;

the darkness in your living.

Let’s wash it away.

Come and be baptised.

Show that you are eager, keen

to begin anew.

One comes after me.

He will do much more than I.

He brings the Spirit.

. . . .

He came from up north

to meet John at the Jordan.

Baptise me, comrade.

The heavens opened

with the voice of approval.

The Spirit came down.

© Ken Rookes 2018.

His name was John

Haiku of promise.

His name was John

He pointed to light; shining,

challenging the dark.

Down beside the creek

he spoke of revolution.

People sought him out.

A man sent from God.

The leaders came to see him:

Who the heck are you?

If you’re not the Christ

are you Elijah; are you

some other prophet?

I am a loud voice,

lonely, crying in the dark:

Make straight the Lord’s path.

Why do you baptise;

you are not the Messiah?

No, but he is here.

I’m using water,

he who comes will do much more;

wait, watch and see!

© Ken Rookes 2017.

Prepare the way

Haiku of expectation

The brutal powers

wink smugly, worship Mammon,

plan their victory.

John the baptiser

stands tall and immovable,

prophet for us all.

Hear the earth weeping,

as she waits for her offspring

to remember love.

Something might happen

if we want it hard enough.

Make yourself ready.

The messenger comes

sent to speak God’s awkward truth,

to prepare the way.

One is soon to come.

He brings a word of hope, life,

not to mention love.

Far greater than I;

in him the heavens draw near

with the Spirit’s kiss.

We need more prophets;

women unafraid of truth,

men who make a stand.

They won’t be silenced.

Like the master they follow

they’re driven by love.

Make the pathways straight

for the one who brings true life,

who makes all things new.

© Ken Rookes 2017.

When Jesus calls

Haiku for taking a chance

With John arrested

Jesus withdraws, goes back home;

north, to Galilee.

He leaves Nazareth

and moves to Capernaum.

There he makes his home.

What the prophet said

is about to be fulfilled;

a great light has dawned.

Commencing his work,

he begins to preach. “Repent,

the kingdom comes near.”

Walking by the sea

he sees Andrew and Simon

casting out their nets.

He calls the brothers,

“Come and follow, learn from me;

we'll fish for people.”

Best offer all day!

The fishers laugh, choose the risk,

leave behind their nets.

Further down the shore

He comes across more brothers,

sons of Zebedee.

In their father's boat,

Sons of Thunder, James and John,

also get the call.

In a flash, the pair

stop, weigh their options, and leave

dad to mend the nets.

© Ken Rookes 2017

Needing to be baptised

Haiku for beginners

When he was ready

he travelled from Galilee,

south, to the Jordan.

There he came to John

with a baptism request.

John was reluctant.

You ask this of me,

I should be baptised by you;

the Baptist demurred.

Let it be so now,

Jesus answered. It's proper

and right to do this.

The river beckoned.

He sank beneath its surface,

finding his calling.

Emerging once more

from the darkness into light;

fills his lungs with life.

The white dove flies low,

with heaven's voice whispering:

this, then, is my son.

© Ken Rookes 2017