No Condemnation

Haiku responding to Rom 8:1-11

No condemnation

now for those who are in Christ;

freed through the Spirit.

The Spirit of life

in Christ Jesus sets you free

from the law of death.

God has done what Law,

made weak through damaged flesh, was

unable to do.

God sent his own Son

in the guise of sinful flesh

to straighten out sin.

Law has been sorted

for us. We walk not as flesh,

we live through Spirit.

Those who live by flesh

are focused on flesh; the flesh

is the way of death.

Live by the Spirit!

Think upon the Spirit; this

leads to life and peace.

The mind set on flesh

is hostile to God; such as

these cannot please God.

You are not of flesh.

Since God's Spirit dwells in you

you're in the Spirit.

Without the Spirit

we do not belong to Christ.

But Christ is in you

The body is dead

because of sin; the Spirit

gives life, makes righteous.

God who raised Jesus

from death, gives your bodies life,

gives you his Spirit.

© Ken Rookes 2026

God's free gift

Haiku responding to Rom 6:12-23

So don't let sin rule

your bodies. Sinful desires

are to be refused.

Bring yourselves to God

as people who have been brought

from death's realm to life.

Sin has no power

o'er you; you're not under law,

you live under grace.

What then, should we sin

because being under grace,

we're not under law?

You were slaves to sin,

now, through the gospel, you are

slaves to righteousness.

Present your members

as slaves to righteousness, and

become sanctified.

When you were sin's slaves

you produced no useful fruits;

death became your end.

You've been freed from sin;

slaves of God, holy, destined

for eternal life.

Sin's wages are death.

God's free gift is life that's true,

through Jesus, our Lord.

© Ken Rookes 2026

All of us

 

Haiku responding to Rom 5:12-19

Because all have sinned.

Not just Adam, all of us

are destined for death.

Sin was before law,

but is not counted as sin

before there was law.

Death was always here.

Even righteous people died;

from Adam onward.

God's free gift is life.

Grace came to us through Jesus,

one man, for many.

God's grace through Jesus

brings forgiveness, righteousness;

death no longer reigns.

From one man's tresspass

death reigned; through one's righteousness,

life for everyone!

One man disobeyed:

we share in his sin; one man

obeyed, we're made right!

(Original sin?

There is no need for Adam;

we do it ourselves.)

The Vision was Strong

Haiku of rattling bones

The vision was strong.

The valley lay before him,

covered with dry bones.

Ezekiel heard

God speak; Tell me, mortal man;

can these bones yet live?

The prophet demurred,

You alone know these things, Lord.

(A careful answer.)

God said: Prophesy

to these bones. By your command

call them back to life.

The prophet called out;

the bones began to rattle

and come together.

The assembled bones

became covered with flesh, skin;

but were without life.

Prophesy, Prophet,

call up the winds that these slain

might take breath and live.

Ezekiel did

what God ordered. The army

rose and stood before.

Israel’s people

are lifeless bones, without hope,

They have no future.

Speak to them, Prophet;

The Lord will open your graves,

God will bring you back.

God makes a promise;

I will give you my spirit,

I will give you life.

© Ken Rookes 2023

Decide

Haiku for living well

God says: Decide now.

Prosperity or hardship,

life or death. Your choice!

Obey God’s commands.

This is the way to true life,

thus will you prosper.

Rules for living well,

Commandments to enable

harmonious life.

Laws that serve people,

that create community;

building justice, love.

False Gods surround you;

don’t go astray or serve them.

That path leads to death.

Obey and hold fast

to God. This way leads to life;

live long in the land.

I give you this land.

Obey my laws, you’ll be blessed;

choose the way of life.

© Ken Rookes, 2023 

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

Life for the whole world

 

Haiku for disputation

I am bread that lives

and gives life to the whole world;

life that comes from God.

He offends them, this

Johannine Jesus; speaking

of his flesh and blood.

Only Eucharist

can make sense of these sayings.

That, and his dying.

True food, and true drink,

my very self in flesh, blood;

I am here for you.

Eat of me; take me

deeply inside you, find me

in all your living

Take me deep within;

my body, blood, and my words.

You shall truly live.

You, who are my friends,

I live in you, you in me;

multiplying life.

© Ken Rookes 2021

Bread that fills the soul

Haiku of life

He said, I am bread;

bread that fills the soul. Don’t thirst

or hunger, come!

The leaders complain:

How can he say these things, I

am bread from heaven?

God is doing this,

drawing folk to hear my words;

they shall know God’s life.

Open your eyes, ears,

to learn God’s truth, to receive

God’s life eternal.

Wilderness manna

from God fed hungry people;

but later they died.

Heaven’s living bread

gives eternal life. I am

the bread from heaven.

I am bread. I give

my body; a gift of life

for all humankind.

© Ken Rookes 2021

 

Bread that is true

Haiku for hungry people

The persistent crowds

seek Jesus, boarding their boats

to sail after him.

You’re looking for me

because I fed you with loaves;

but you’re still hungry.

Bread for the belly

lasts but hours. Seek God’s bread,

feeding the spirit.

The bread that is true,

far better than Moses gave,

comes from the Father.

Sir, give us this bread

always; each, every day

feed us with your life.

I am bread for life,

says the Johannine Jesus;

come, believe in me.

Trust the things I say,

do the things I’m telling you:

so fulfil God’s work.

You, who are hungry,

and you who thirst for fullness,

hear my words and live.

 

© Ken Rookes 2021

 

© Ken Rookes 2021

Tough words

Haiku for disciples

He began to teach:

The Son of Man must suffer.

His friends are appalled!

Religious leaders,

take issue with his message,

are out to get him.

He will be silenced

one way or another. They

will do what it takes.

They will reject me,

I must be put to death. Don’t

say these things! They cry.

Time for plain speaking.

Would you be my disciples?

You must bear your cross.

Follow in my way.

Only by letting it go

can you save your life.

The gospel’s demands

must come ahead of all else.

Lose you life for me.

What is the world worth,

its pleasure, fame and fortune,

if you lose your soul?

(Hear this, O blind guides,

proclaiming your fake gospel

of prosperity!)

© 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

The teacher instructs

Haiku for disciples

The teacher instructs

his followers; they will shape

their lives upon his.

The teacher directs

her disciples; live like me,

they’ll treat you the same.

Do not be afraid.

Truth will come out at the end.

Simply be faithful.

Proclaim it loudly

from the rooftops, what you hear

from me in whispers.

You are of great worth

to God. Should they take your life

God will receive you.

I bring division.

There is much they will not hear,

much that will offend.

You must take it up;

the cross that says servanthood.

Shrink not from its shame.

You would find your life?

Lose it with me. Discover

the life that is true.

© Ken Rookes

Rivers

Haiku of the Spirit

Thirsty, dry and parched,

worn out and desiccated,

eager for a drink

At the festival,

interrupting proceedings,

he stood: Come to me!”

If you are thirsty,

come! Life renewing water

will flow deep within!

From the seeker’s heart

shall flow rivers of water,

living, Spirit-filled.

Rivers of water,

gushing strong, splashing with life

and with the Spirit.

The Spirit will come;

open your eyes, you will see

what God is doing.

* * * * *

Can’t be a prophet,

they say he’s from Galilee.

Not prophet country!

© Ken Rookes 2020

But you will see me

Haiku of abiding

Prove that you love me,

you who are my disciples;

keep my commandments.

What was that command

that he gave to all his friends?

Something about love.

I’ll ask the Father.

He will send the Advocate;

with you for ever.

The Spirit of truth;

you know him, he is with you.

He will be in you.

Soon I will be gone,

the world will cease to see me,

but you will see me.

You, friends, will see me.

Life and love are found in me;

you also will live.

I in my Father,

you in me and I in you;

much shared indwelling.

Prove that you love me

by keeping my commandments.

Love will unite us.

© Ken Rookes 2020

In my Father's house

Haiku of the Way

In my Father’s house

there are rooms for all of you;

put your trust in me.

I go on ahead

to prepare a place for you.

You will be with me.

Lord we do not know

where it is you’re going to;

What will be the way?

Friends, I am the way;

truth and life are found in me.

Come, meet my Father.

Show us the Father!

I’ve been with you all this time,

and you still don’t know?

Whoever sees me

sees the Father. My words and

works are from him.

Those who trust in me

will continue what I do,

even greater things!

© Ken Rookes 2020