Not getting away with it

Haiku reminding us that even kings are not meant to be above the law.

With Uriah dead

Bathsheba mourned for him, then

moved in with David.

Bathsheba married

David, gave birth to a son.

God was not impressed.

Nathan, the prophet

shows up, and tells a story;

more a parable.

Two men, rich and poor.

Poor man has a much loved lamb;

the rich man takes it.

David is angry.

That rich man deserves to die!

He had no pity!

You’re the man, David!

God’s given you ev’rything,

you have done evil!

You had Uriah

killed, you took his wife as yours.

The Lord has judged you.

The sword will not leave

your house; you have despised me

in your wicked deeds.

From within your house,

strife; your wives will be taken

where all can witness.

You sinned in secret,

but your shame will be exposed

before all the land.

I have sinned! David

declares. Yes, but you won’t die;

God has let it go.

© Ken Rookes 2024

One more year

 

Haiku of grace

We who are righteous;

God will never punish us.

He has no need to!

When bad stuff happens

we like to blame the victims:

Must be their own fault.

Good people prosper,

bad people are punished. No!

That’s not how it works.

You must all repent

turn from your self-centred ways.

Then you’ll truly live.

Trees that won’t bear fruit:

fig, olive, apple; not worth

space in the garden.

For three years I came

looking for the promised fruit,

but none! Cut it down!

The gardener speaks:

One more year of special care,

let’s see what it does.

One more year. What grace

is shown to those unworthy;

what grace shown to me!

© Ken Rookes 2022

Growth

 

Haiku of the kingdom

Agricultural

metaphors abound: seeds, growth

and much fruitfulness.

Here is the kingdom;

seed is scattered on the ground,

grows in ways unseen.

How does the seed grow?

Who can understand? Who cares,

we’ll still harvest it!

Again, the kingdom

is like a mustard seed; small,

but great potential!

A home for the birds;

a great outcome for this seed,

small and unacclaimed.

Parables sneak up,

catching hearers by surprise;

life-giving wisdom.

Great story-telling

Jesus! Drawing us in, and

disturbing our thoughts!

© Ken Rookes 2021

A final kingdom image

Haiku for ruminants

Matthew delivers

a final kingdom image:

sheep, goats and judgement.

The sheep receive praise,

commendation for their acts

of love and service.

Hungry or thirsty,

naked, stranger, in prison;

so many need help!

So much injustice,

while those who pretend to care

only want power.

As you act with love

to the least of my fam’ly

you show love to me.

On the other hand,

the goats stand condemned, having

failed to practise love.

Jesus, Son of Man,

measures kingdom credentials

by love and service.

© Ken Rookes 2020

Buckets of Money

 

Haiku for having a go.

The journeying man,

in the story Jesus told,

left his slaves in charge.

Diff’rent sized buckets

of money according to

perceived competence.

Take what you’re given

and use it well, with wisdom,

grace and compassion.

Fear is enemy

to action. What if I fail;

what if I blow it?

The master returns

to inspect the estate. How

is your stewardship?

Days of accounting

wherein my efforts are judged.

I have judged myself.

Well done, companions,

you have loved, served and striven!

You are my true friends.

© Ken Rookes 2020

Ten Dancing Girls

 

Haiku of preparedness

He tells a story.

How to enter the kingdom:

make no assumptions!

They carried their lamps

these bridesmaids, ready to dance

the groom to the feast.

No invitations,

their danced welcome should suffice

to gain them entry.

Waiting in the street.

Where is the groom, he is late/

They sat down and slept.

Of the ten, five brought

spare oil, ready to deal with

any circumstance.

Five were unprepared.

While they were shopping for oil

the bridegroom arrived.

Five girls missed the dance

and also missed the party;

always be prepared.

Keep awake, therefore.

Wakefulness, preparedness,

unremitting love.

© Ken Rookes 2020

Royal Wedding

 

Haiku of failed RSVPs

Stories that provoke

and challenge entitlement,

making leaders squirm

A wedding banquet.

The invitations are sent.

No one wants to come.

Look, a second chance!

The servants go out again

to call in the guests.

It all turns ugly

with disturbing violence;

inexplicable.

The king is enraged,

understandably. Sends troops

to exact justice.

Here’s the new order:

all sorts of common people

called to the banquet.

The good and the bad;

all are called, all invited

to this wedding feast.

Postscript.

A strange conclusion

to a strange story: make sure

you’re properly dressed.

© Ken Rookes 2020

Another Vineyard

Haiku of fruitfulness

Another vineyard

story. This time tenants, rent,

paying what is due.

How much is Jesus;

how much from gospel writers

offering hindsight?

One more parable.

Aspects of allegory;

who represents what?

Shades of Isaiah’s

vineyard producing wild grapes.

But the fruit is good!

Heaps of violence

as the greedy and corrupt

execute their plan.

The son, too, is killed.

Our thoughts are led to the end

of Jesus’ story.

Judgement takes its place

at centre-stage. The warning:

produce kingdom fruits.

You who were the first

to receive grace, from you much

will be expected.

If you won’t bear fruit

you’ve moved outside the kingdom.

Others will enter.

Priests and Pharisees

heard the penny drop that day;

these words were for them

© Ken Rookes 2020 

Of the two

Haiku for the first in line.

Chief priests and elders

can only defend the past;

cannot see the new.

We are entitled!

They cry with indignation.

No, you’re not, he says.

What authority

do you have to say these things?

I will not tell you.

A man had two sons.

Asked them both to work the vines;

different answers.

One said I will not,

but later changed his thinking

and did the right thing.

One said Yes, I’ll go;

but for whatever reason

that son never did.

Words are easily

spoken. It is the actions

that really matter.

The tax collectors

and prostitutes believed John;

entered the kingdom.

Chief priests and elders

believe they set the standard

while others fall short.

You wear the Tee-shirt;

make sure you know its message;

act accordingly.

The first will be last.

Those who pass up the invite

lose their place in line.

© Ken Rookes 2020

Don't grumble at grace.

Haiku of generosity

Not a rule book for

industrial relations;

this vineyard story.

It is about grace;

an eccentric employer,

a generous wage.

He paid them the same,

the ones who worked all day long,

and those who came late.

They grumble. The ones

who laboured through the day’s heat

felt badly done by.

Did you not agree

on the usual day’s wage?

That’s what you received.

Don’t grumble at grace

when it is shown to others:

celebrate with them!

Is God eccentric

like the man with the vineyard?

Most definitely!

© Ken Rookes 2020

To forgive or not?

Haiku of new beginnings

 

To forgive or not?

That, friend, is the conundrum:

Do you deserve it?

You say you’re sorry,

but the question remains: Will

you do it again?

Seventy seven?

Should I forgive that often?

He must be joking!

Another story,

of a man forgiven much,

who couldn’t forgive.

It is at the core

of Jesus’ teachings: Forgive,

as God forgives you.

Without forgiveness

there is only bitterness,

violence and death.

It’s that important,

forgiveness opens the way

to new beginnings.

© Ken Rookes 2020

When the harvest comes

Haiku for judging

The kingdom of God,

what is it like? A story

agricultural.

An enemy comes

by night, sows weeds with the wheat,

and then goes away

Good mixed with the bad,

how quick we are to rush in;

how quickly we judge.

Growing together,

weeds and wheat: strange companions,

until the harvest.

Take time, seek the fruits;

these alone will determine

what is good and bad.

Jesus sows the seeds,

the children of the kingdom

produce righteous fruit.

Judgement is waiting

for the children of darkness

at the age’s end.

The righteous will shine

like the sun in God’s kingdom.

Do not wait to shine.

© Ken Rookes 2020

The Sower

Haiku of potential

The seed is scattered

on the ploughed earth by the man,

hoping and praying.

It’s all about soil

and where the seed comes to rest;

where it sends down roots.

Some fall on the path;

the birds know that they’re in luck,

swiftly make their claim.

On the rocky soil

shoots come soon, then fall away;

lack sufficient roots.

The weeds claim their share,

choking tender shoots of green;

lacking commitment.

Seemingly against

the odds, some seed comes to rest

in good soil. Hooray!

Like in the kingdom

the gospel seeds find a place

where love can grow strong.

Take the seed deeply

in your heart, listen to it,

bear abundant fruit.

© Ken Rookes 2020

Paying the rent

Haiku for paying one’s dues

It was occupied

by disrespectful tenants;

the famous vineyard.

Watchtower, wine press

and fenced on every side,

what more could you want?

Think of all the grapes!

The profits must be immense;

go and get the rent!

The wicked tenants

refuse to pay, beating up

those sent to collect.

The story is told

against the privileged ones

who will not bear fruit.

Hand over the rent,

bring forth the righteous bunches

of justice and love.

The angry owner

comes as judge to sort things out,

showing no mercy.

Those on the outside,

sinners and tax collectors,

will be given their place.

The rejected block

has been made the cornerstone.

That is what God does.

© Ken Rookes 2020

Some haiku for the Narrative Lectionary, 2nd Sunday in Lent.

How good is this, God? or The best form of welfare.

Haiku for the relevant Minister.

Those who are righteous
can treat others with contempt,
Jesus warned, beware!

The tax collector,
lowly, the Pharisee, grand,
stood in the temple.

The Pharisee prayed
proud, God it’s good to be me,
I thank you for that.

I’m such a fine bloke,
honest, blameless, quite unlike
that dole collector.

The tax collector
bowed his head, God, have mercy
on me, a sinner!

The second went home
justified, his prayer answered.
Not the Pharisee.

They are in control,
still, the Pharisees, with their
contempt for the poor.

How good is this, God,
that we are not drug users
and welfare cheaters?


© Ken Rookes 2019

Justice and Faith

Haiku for grabbing hold

Another story

from the story-telling man;

and more surprises.

The judge didn’t care

about the law, or people,

or what God wanted.

The judge was corrupt;

if you had enough money

you’d get your verdict.

She is a widow,

pestering, seeking justice;

the judge refuses.

She doesn’t give up,

keeps on with her bothering.

until he gives in.

She achieved justice,

grabbed it tight, not letting go.

God is easier.

Belonging to God,

day and night they are crying

for help, and it comes!

Justice is God’s work.

God’s people can be assured

it will be granted.

Justice and faith,

these two, beloved of God,

shaping God’s people.

© Ken Rookes 2019

The size of a mustard seed

Haiku for the faithful

Increase our faith, Lord,

the apostles requested.

A silly question.

What’s the point of faith,

however big or tiny,

unless it is used.

You don’t need much faith,

a mustard seed will suffice.

Just put it to use.

Even a schoolgirl

can make a real difference;

faith joined with courage.

Do not reward us

for doing what’s expected.

We do what we must.

We are worthless slaves.

We owe God everything;

thanks are not required.

What to do with faith?

Love, forgive, build justice, peace;

welcome the kingdom.

Look deeply within;

see the faith already there,

ready to wake up.

© Ken Rookes 2019

The gap

Haiku for the indifferent

It’s always been big,

the gap between rich and poor.

Keeps getting larger.

The wealthy man’s scraps

could have fed the poor beggar.

They weren’t on offer.

For a peaceful life

the rich invest in awnings

that conceal the poor.

Beggars confront us,

we hide behind the question:

Are they deserving?

God does not question,

embracing the poor beggar,

deserving or not.

The wealthy protest,

if only we’d realised!

You chose not to know.

Should someone return

from the dead to give warning,

they still would not hear.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Finding the lost

Haiku for fringe dwellers

The tax collectors

and all the other ratbags

listened to Jesus.

All the good people

objected: This man hangs out

with unworthy types.

He told them stories

about things that had been lost.

Now they‘re being found!.

It doesn’t matter,

sheep, coins, car keys or people;

the lost need finding.

Grace is ev’rything,

I once was lost, now I’m found.

So the old hymn goes.

The ratbag sinners,

by definition, are lost;

they need an embrace.

They dwell on the fringe;

Jesus, offers them friendship.

No one need stay lost.

Lift up your eyes. Look,

the lost are all around us;

love them like Jesus.

© Ken Rookes 2019

A lesson in prayer

Haiku of generosity

Lord, teach us to pray.

A request from disciples

eager to know more.

He tells a story

of a nocturnal knocking,

requesting three loaves.

Don’t ask me for bread;

that is far too much trouble!

(This could not happen!)

The story’s hearers

would have laughed in disbelief.

Quite impossible!

Hospitality’s

demands for generousness

are laid before us.

This lesson in prayer

offers one decisive point:

God is generous

When we come in prayer

to God we can be assured:

God is here for us.

© Ken Rookes 2019