Mourning into joy

 

Haiku of promise

(Jeremiah 31:7-14)

The Lord says, Shout out!

Sing gladly, sing out loud, praise

the chief of nations.

Proclaim, praise and say:

Lord, save them; those who remain,

of Jacob's offspring.

They had been scattered,

Jacob's children; the remnant

shall now be brought home.

Rejoice, Israel,

from the earth's most distant parts

they shall return here.

They'll come with weeping

the lame, the blind, those with child,

and those in labour.

They will walk by streams

on straight paths. They'll not stumble,

I'll be their father.

Let all nations hear:

I now gather the scattered;

Jacob is redeemed.

They will be joyful

at the harvest; grain, wine, oil,

showing God's goodness.

Flock and herd prosper!

They'll be like watered gardens,

they shall not languish

Young women shall dance,

young men and old make merry;

mourning turns to joy.

© Ken Rookes 2024

Bringing it back

Haiku for a procession

The amazing Ark,

repository of God’s

amazing presence.

Thirty thousand men

in a splendid procession

to Jerusalem.

The cart is special,

purpose-built, to bear it from

Abinidab’s house.

David was dancing

before the Lord, along with

all of Israel.

They danced with cymbals,

tambourines, lyres, castanets,

harps and much singing.

Dancing before God,

wild and furious, wearing

a linen ephod.

From Obed-edom

to Jerusalem, with the

sound of the trumpet.

Wife, Michal, watched as

David leapt and danced. She was

very unimpressed.

The Ark is installed

in its special tent; many

offerings are made.

In the name of God

David gives a blessing; and

food for the party.

© Ken Rookes 2024 

The sad monarch

Haiku of the powerful and the small

Sad monarch Herod

like his father before him,

achieved infamy.

Pathetic ruler

easy to manipulate,

a slave to his lusts.

John the baptiser

never could keep his mouth shut,

incurred royal wrath.

Herod’s vengeful wife,

Herodias, took offence

at his denouncements.

Cast into prison,

John was forced to bide his time.

Herod still feared him.

The stepdaughter danced

at Herod’s party. Sexy;

the men all lusted.

Whatever you want,

the king had said. Then give me

the Baptiser’s head.

The king grieves deeply,

not foreseeing this outcome,

but he has been caught.

A bloody triumph

on a platter. She, in turn,

gives it to mother.

John’s disciples hear,

and come to claim his body;

bury him with love.

© Ken Rookes 2018

Silenced

In the fears and uncertainties of first century Jewish politics

an insecure monarch lusts after the niece
who also doubles as his step-daughter.
At a birthday banquet,
the girl entices the gathered dignitaries
with a dance.
Arousing, provocative,
teasing and taunting;
she knows how to shake it.


In the old man’s fantasy foolishness
half a kingdom is offered
as the prize for his pleasant titillation.
A prophet's head,
severed from its outspoken owner'’s body
and proffered upon a platter,
is the price prescribed
by the girl’s vengeful mother.


A king's self-importance is never a small thing.
His ego expands even further
in the presence of multiple weighty witnesses;
the offending voice will be silenced.
For good.


It's been all about power, lust, politics, pride, and retribution.
Between them, over the next two millennia and beyond,
these evils will account for the larger part
of the world’s pain and sorrow.

During that time other offensive voices will be raised

and many will be silenced.
But an outrageous few will recklessly persist
so that the kingdom,
the kingdom grounded in love and truth and sacrifice
will come;
one day,
as promised.

© Ken Rookes 2015

I will not dance with Miriam

I will not dance with Miriam,

nor sing her triumph song.

The winners have written

their history; victorious

but confronting.

Scrape away its many layers:

racism, nationalism, vengeance,

religious superiority, triumphalism,

indiscriminate killing,

no thought for the bereaved.

Not much grace,

even less forgiveness;

and the Almighty is conscripted

to justify the hatred.

It could be set in Palestine,

twenty-fourteen.

No.

I will not dance with Miriam,

nor sing her triumph song.

© Ken Rookes 2014

losing ourselves in the dance

"Essentially, Matthew is saying, the law was always meant to be about the heart. But, it’s easier to make it about the rules. It’s easier to get it into the head, to check the rules off on a list, and to keep it all clean and simple. It’s easy to make the law about technicalities. But, Jesus, is calling for people to allow the law to become what it was meant to be – a song to sing and improvise around, a rhythm to dance to, and see where it leads, an indication of the notes that lead us into the magic of the music. This is what it means for Jesus to fulfil the law (Matthew 5:17). He moves it beyond technicalities, beyond the head alone, beyond checklists and turns it into a doorway to life, an invitation to encounter God, and a completely alternative way of being that liberates and celebrates and welcomes. The law, for Jesus, is not so much about punishing wrong as it is about strengthening our innate capacity to bring life – to do what is right. It’s about going beyond the steps and losing ourselves in the dance.
http://sacredise.com/blog/?p=980