Surely we're not blind

Haiku for those who can see.

Who was the person

whose sin caused this man’s blindness?

Doesn’t work like that.

A miracle tale

as Jesus heals a blind man.

Much consternation!

The authorities

refuse to see the new thing

that God is doing.

Oppressive doctrine

is the cause of much blindness;

now, as it was then.

Blind authorities

still betray; they are captive

to lust and power.

Blindness all around.

We quite like this blissful state;

pretend innocence.

No, it wasn’t me;

I’ve not seen their suffering,

do not know their pain.

Surely we’re not blind!

If you were, you’d have no sin;

but your sin remains.

He comes seeking us;

the one who opens closed eyes.

Let us see, Jesus.

© Ken Rookes 2020

Are the heavens open for you?

"About ad 500 a book was written by a mystic or group of mystics called the ‘cloud of unknowing’, which talks of the mystical nature of belief, a sort of working in the dark.  

Do you feel that the heavens are opened for you, or are they closed and dark?

They were for Jesus, that was the whole point of this story. In everything this incomparable Person was and did. Jesus’ life and death embody the opening of the heavens. After this his life is transformed, he goes out into the world healing preaching and loving all those with whom he came into contact. His life was motivated by heavenly love and despite all the hatred and temptations to power that came his way, heaven remained open to him.

Interesting isn’t it, that when we think of the heavens being opened for us, we think of the effect of that being a new batch of miracles that take away the pain of the world around us, but for Jesus, the heavens being opened was about how his life became moved by the power of love and the goodness of God.

For us the heavens are never now closed. Never! In Christ and through Christ they are open! Our feelings do not determine the status of the windows of heaven. It has been determined in Christ Jesus. The Word and the Spirit flow free and are among us.

When the heavens are open, anything is possible."

http://www.bruceprewer.com/DocB/BBAPTISMOFJESUS.htm

The door will be opened

God’s presence with humankind
is imaged in the New Testament
by the gift of the Holy Spirit
who gently whispers deep into our dreamings
and speaks into our silences.
Not one will be left alone,
no-one will be without the Spirit’s
companionship as they journey
towards the kingdom.
Let your eyes be opened
to see where the Spirit is at work,
renewing a struggling creation.
Tune your ears to the soft voice
calling all creatures into relationships
of harmony and cooperation.
Let your hearts be opened
to all the Spirit-possibilities
of grace and reconciliation.
Every day, with each breath and heartbeat,
may your soul quicken and your mind take notice
of wondrous presence and mystery;
a wind of change, disturbing but generous,
joyfully enlivening our spirits
and those of all who ask,
search and knock.



© Ken Rookes 2013