Praying for his friends

Haiku to unite

He’s praying for them.

Jesus knows his time is near,

and prays for his friends.

Knows the day comes near

when they will need each other

and must stand as one.

Not just for his friends

but for those who hear their words;

he prays for them, too.

This unity thing:

Jesus one with his Father,

Jesus one with us.

I and you and them;

much mutual indwelling

speaking unity.

From the beginning,

splashing over ev’ryone,

love, divine and true.

Witness to the world

with your unity and love,

prove that you are mine.

A love explosion!

Yours for me, growing in them,

united in love.

© Ken Rookes 2019

The hour has come

Haiku to unite a people.

The hour has come;

things move inexorably

to their conclusion.

Jesus' work is done.

Just one last task before him;

shouldn't be too hard.

We struggle to grasp:

the Son will be glorified

as he meets his death.

Receiving God's word,

he opened it to his friends,

sharing the wonder.

Touched by divine grace

he speaks of life eternal:

communion with God.

He prays for his friends,

knowing he must soon depart,

leaves them in God's care.

Father, keep them safe

beyond this hour. Unite them;

ground them in your love.

© Ken Rookes 2017

Home

(Matthew 4:12-13)

Jesus made his home in Capernaum.
His mother stayed in Nazareth,
along with his sisters and brothers.
They talked in low murmurs
about their eccentric older brother;
the girls were married,
most of the boys too,
with children of their own.
Family gatherings had been good times
of fun and celebration;
with Jesus, everybody’s favourite uncle.
At thirty he should have taken a wife;
should be thinking about his own children.
Perhaps that was his intention,
but why Capernaum, and not Nazareth?
Surprised, bewildered,
and somewhat hurt by his departure,
the family held a crisis meeting
and agreed that a delegation should go
to the seaside town to persuade him to return home.

“It’s good to see you,”
he whispered as he embraced each one.
“Yes, I will be staying.
Of course I miss you,
but no, I’m not lonely,” he said,
as he introduced his new friends.
They wept, spoke of his mother’s tears,
and pressed him for further explanation.
“The time had come,”
was all he offered.

© Ken Rookes