Divine things

All around us,

divine things;

elusive butterflies of different hues

catching the light and reflecting it

in rainbow colours, flashing

as they flap their delicate wings.

From shade into brightness

and back into the shadows they flutter;

intermittently visible,

persistently present, fragile.

Tears and generosity,

humility, sacrifice, and discomforting truth,

these things; born out of love,

and vulnerable. Like god.

They dance, unconstrained,

through the dappled sunlight,

precariously present.              

Divine things,

all around us, (and within);

keep your eyes upon them.

© Ken Rookes 2015

A prayer of confession

Unison Prayer of Confession
Taught by our culture to want everything, Comfort of the righteous, we confess that emptiness that sends us searching for still more. Our constant desire for greener pastures fills us with every lust and envy. Our belief that still waters are stagnant sends us thirsting for whitewater thrills and adventures. Our trust in the promises of the world turns us away from the shelter you offer.

Forgive us, Source of goodness and mercy. Call us back from our wayward lives, that we might find rest in your heart, healing from your hands, and unity in life together as disciples of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
Hear God's voice: I will walk with you in every moment; I fill you with my grace and hope; I know you and love you.
Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.
(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

Keys

Peter got the keys,

so Matthew tells us;

the keys of the kingdom.

Artists love to paint the archetype apostle

holding a ring of big, clunky

iron keys, (sometimes golden).

Of course, if these are the keys

that open the locks of the kingdom,

(of heaven, as Matthew insists),

then paradise itself must be

some sort of city, golden and shining.

We picture it, radiant with consolation

for the ills and indignities

suffered in our dust-centred lives,

enclosed by some sort of wall; and gates

through which the glorious reward

may be glimpsed, but from which

the less than worthy are turned away.

So it is that the flawed fisherman

is translated into the exacting gatekeeper,

and those who come after him

believe they are called

to continue his supposed ministry

of determining who may come in.

Ah, the power!

Those who dare

to front the gates of glory

without the necessary ticket;

well, it’s their own fault, really.

Can this ever be the gospel?

Jesus, as I hear his words,

spoke of entering into God’s abundant life

of justice, freedom and compassion;

and the invitation is for everyone.

Perhaps Matthew didn’t quite get it, either.

© Ken Rookes 2011

Who do you say that I am?

You are the Messiah,

the one sent from God;

who shows us

what it is like when God’s spirit

bubbles from within.

You are the one in harmony

with all creation;

who might just persuade

the lion and the lamb

to lie down together.

You are the one whose words

challenge and delight,

skipping childlike in the rain;

who changes enemies into friends,

tears into laughter,

anger into hope,

fear into freedom.

You are the one who calls

liberty out of bondage,

light out of darkness,

life out of death.

You are love;

the one in whom we live and move

and have our being.

You are the Messiah,

child of the God

whose life is everywhere.

© Ken Rookes