Clothe yourselves in Christ

 

Haiku responding to Romans 13:11-14

There's no time to waste;

get on with it. Wake up now,

there's much to be done.

Salvation is near;

it draws closer ev'ry day

since we have believed.

The night is far gone,

The day is near. Let us, then,

throw off the darkness.

Let's discard the works

of darkness and let's put on

the armour of light.

Let us live decent

lives; sober, pure, and without

envy or quarrels.

Put the flesh aside;

don't gratify it's desires.

Clothe yourselves in Christ.

© Ken Rookes 2025

How we should live

 

Haiku responding to Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Continue to build

affection for each other,

as Christ commanded.

Be hospitable

to strangers; you may find you've

entertained angels.

Don't forget prisoners.

Imagine if it were you

in prison with them.

Those being tortured;

remember them, support them,

grateful it's not you.

Honour marriages;

don't cheat. God will judge the ones

who defile marriage.

Try to be content

with what God has given you.

Don't worship money.

God is your helper;

there is nothing to fear. What

can be done to you?

Imitate the faith

of those who brought you God's word.

Look at how they live.

He is constant; same

yesterday, today, always.

Jesus Christ, our Lord.

© Ken Rookes 2025

Lifted

Haiku of departure

On Mt Olivet

they gather, as instructed,

to farewell their Lord.

He could not remain.

At least in body. Risen,

Lord Jesus departs.

First his commission:

When the Spirit comes, you must

be my witnesses.

And so he ascends,

departing earth’s dust, hidden

within a low cloud

Two glowing angels

conveniently appear

to seal the event.

In Jerusalem

the group reconvenes

in the upstairs room.

With the apostles,

some women, his brothers, mum;

waiting and praying.

© Ken Rookes 2023

Nothing else; only love.

 

Haiku of the essence

The new commandment:

as ancient as time itself,

as new as the dawn.

In love, self-giving,

in sacrifice and in death

God’s glory is found.

My children, shortly

I will be gone. You will search,

but you won’t find me.

Where I am going

you are not able to come.

I give you one rule.

Love one another,

in the same way that I love

you, you are to love.

One thing, nothing else;

by your love you will be known

as my disciples.

Being ruled by love

will be proof that you are mine.

Nothing else, just love.

© Ken Rookes 2022

When will this be?

Haiku of the eschaton

Up from the country,

disciples are in awe. Look

at the size of those!

See these great buildings,

said Jesus. These are nothing;

all will be made dust.

What is important;

which are the things that remain?

There is only one.

Four came to Jesus,

asking him on the quiet:

when will this happen?

Troubled times ahead!

Some will come, claim “I am he!”

Don’t be led astray.

You will hear of wars

and rumours. Mere precursors;

the end still awaits.

Conflicting nations,

famines, earthquakes; these are signs;

the birth pangs begin.

The kingdom will come

but not as you expect; won’t

be an easy birth.

© Ken Rookes 2021

We have left everything

Haiku of the journey

He had kept the law,

this man who wanted to live

the life eternal.

Jesus looks with love.

One thing you lack. Sell the lot,

give it to the poor.

For your poverty,

treasure in heaven. The cost

proves to be too great.

How hard for the rich

to enter God’s realm. Camels

squeezing through needles!

Relax, he wasn’t

talking to us. Just this man!

We can keep our stuff.

We who have comfort,

warm, with three meals; perhaps we

are among the rich.

Who, then, can be saved?

For mortals, not possible,

but God can do it.

What you leave behind

to follow, you will receive

back a hundredfold.

In the age to come

all will be reversed. The first

are last; the last, first.

© Ken Rookes 2021

 

In patriarchy

Haiku of the powerless

In patriarchy

women are commodities;

discard when it suits.

They ask, Can a man

lawfully divorce his wife?

How will he answer?

What did Moses say?

A simple certificate

to dismiss will do.

You misogynists!

Because you are hard of heart

Moses gave this law!

In God’s great purpose

two people come together

to be joined as one.

Together as one

in mutual support, love;

marriage is God’s gift.

The twelve gate-keepers

were dismissing the children;

Jesus takes offence.

Let the children come;

the kingdom belongs to them.

They bring God’s blessings.

Powerless children;

by grace alone they receive.

So, too, must you come.

© Ken Rookes 2021

Not one of us

 Haiku of welcome

Wasn’t one of us,

casting out in Jesus’ name;

we told him to stop.

Complained to Jesus.

No probs. He’s not against us,

must be on our side!

When deeds of power

are done in my name, they bear

witness to my words.

The great welcomer;

Jesus looks a what we do,

not at our Tee-shirt.

When people bless you

because you carry my name,

they too, will be blessed.

Don’t make barriers

that cause the weak to stumble;

work to welcome them.

Let nothing stop you

from living the kingdom life.

It is ev’rything.

The kingdom’s good salt

is in you. Share peace and salt

with everyone.

© Ken Rookes 2021

Making matters clear

Haiku of servanthood

Avoiding the crowds,

hanging with his disciples,

making matters clear.

Betrayal awaits

the Son of man, and then death;

but there’s more to come.

His words seem riddles.

to his friends. Afraid to ask,

not understanding.

They were arguing

as they travelled. Which of them

would be the greatest.

They are embarrassed

when he asks them, will not say

why they had argued.

Those who would be first

must be last of all, must learn

to be a servant.

He takes a small child

in his arms. When you welcome

such, you welcome me.

Some self-styled Christians

climb the ladder, reach the top,

then forget to serve.

© Ken Rookes 2021

Defiled hearts

Haiku of true worship

The Pharisees frown;

Jesus, your friends are eating

with their defiled hands.

Cleanliness requires

much washing, of hands and food;

also cups and pots.

They put much stock in

being ritually clean.

Jesus laughs at them.

Rules are worth nothing.

It’s what you do, what you say,

that matters to God.

Don’t try to honour

God with your lips if you won’t

do so with your hearts.

Take note, you leaders:

evil words and loveless deeds

render you unclean.

Human traditions

are rubbish, worship too; if

you’re ignoring God.

There’s only one law

that you need to keep; that you

love. The rest is dross.

© Ken Rookes 2021

Difficult teaching

Haiku for the troubled

Come, eat my flesh! The

literally-minded folk

take extreme offence.

What is his meaning,

this claim to be bread for all;

the bread who gives life?

The words that I speak

brings life to your spirit; yet

not all will believe.

Even disciples

are troubled. This difficult

teaching troubles them.

Some of them decamped.

He asks the twelve, Do you wish

to turn back also?

Simon Peter speaks:

To whom can we go? Your words

alone lead to life.

We have known you, Lord;

We see your words are true, that

you are sent from God.

© Ken Rookes 2021

Escaping the crowds

 Haiku for a retreat

They have been busy;

the twelve he sent out to share

his life-giving news.

To the wilderness

they retreat, an empty place

where they can rest up.

The lake is their friend!

They sail in their little boat

away from the throng.

He has become known.

Recognition blocks the plan;

the crowds come seeking.

They are shepherd-less,

these sheep. He steps up to teach,

sharing the kingdom.

His fame goes ahead.

In Gennesaret the crowds

see him and gather.

They hope to be healed.

We all do. Come, Lord Jesus;

we, too, are broken.

© Ken Rookes 2021

Getting on with it.

 

Haiku for disciples

There is nothing new.

People still take great offence

at what Jesus says.

The self-styled righteous

can’t believe that such wisdom

can reside in him.

We know his brothers;

he’s just a carpenter’s son.

Look, there’s his mother!

Some pretend to be

followers; ones who listen

but forget to love.

So-called holy hands

are raised high in devotion,

but won’t do love’s work.

He has instructed

the twelve, revealed the kingdom;

now he sends them out.

You won’t need a bag,

don’t take spare clothes, bread, money;

our God will provide.

Go, share my good news.

Some will hear you, some will not.

That’s the way it is.

© Ken Rookes 2021

The storm

Haiku of stillness

After a long day

telling stories, parables,

Jesus needs a break.

Suggests a boat trip.

Let us cross the lake; we can

leave the crowd behind.

He slept in the stern

as winds gathered force, and waves

beat against the boat.

They woke him. Teacher,

don’t you care that we perish?

He spoke: Peace, be still!

Rebuking the wind

and commanding the sea, he

speaks, and all is calm.

Why are you afraid?

He asked them. Where is your faith?

They were filled with awe.

Who, they ask, is this?

When our boat is being swamped

he brings us order.

Speak your word of peace

into my turmoil, Jesus;

let my waves be stilled.

© Ken Rookes 2021