The man had two sons

Haiku of disturbing grace.

The man had two sons.

The second came, uncaring;

I need my share now.

The son went abroad

to ply his profligate plan:

wine, women and song.

The money is gone,

the so-called friends disappear,

poverty beckons.

Heading for his home,

what will he say? Sorry Dad,

don’t call me your son.

His father rejoiced,

My son was dead, Now he lives!

Come, it’s party-time !

The older brother

is unimpressed, refusing

the celebrations.

When such grace abounds

we who are worthy must choose:

judge, or celebrate?

Will the fatted calf

provide feasting for us all,

or just the sinful?

© Ken Rookes 2022

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

Yet they will not come

Haiku of lament

Herod is a fox,

threatened by Jesus, makes plans

to be rid of him.

They try to warn him.

Jerusalem is not safe!

The man is reckless.

Love’s work must go on;

to bring healing, freedom, hope.

I must finish it.

Jerusalem calls.

It is the killing place, where

prophets meet their end.

O Jerusalem,

city of sadness and death,

how tragic you are!

Your children are lost;

unprotected chicks. I would

gather them to me.

My heart is aching

to embrace and protect them;

yet they will not come.

© Ken Rookes 2022

The choice

Haiku of testing

Forty days and nights

in the wilderness, driven

by the wild Spirit.

A time of testing,

hunger and doubt. Who am I,

what am I to do?

The testing man comes

with his tempting offers: Turn

these stones into bread!

You can have it all;

the power and the glory.

Worship me; it’s yours!

Make a big display!

Throw yourself from this tower.

Angels will catch you!

No. I will not take

the easy road. Love’s pathway

is not without pain.

My course is from God;

I choose it, it chooses me;

and the suffering.

The tester departs.

leaves him alone with his thoughts.

At least, for a time.

© Ken Rookes 2022

Heaven has come close

Haiku of illumination

Four of them, climbing

the mountain of destiny;

Jesus and some mates.

While he was praying

his face became altered, white,

dazzling and bright.

A conversation,

Moses, Elijah, Jesus,

speaking of the end.

Heaven has come close,

the divine and the human

weaving together.

There is glory here,

a glimpse before the end, when

fullness is revealed.

The descending cloud

overshadows, a voice speaks;

My Son: hear his words!

The cloud lifts. Only

Jesus remains. He tells them,

Do not speak of this.

Only at the end,

Beyond the cross and the tomb

will they understand.

© Ken Rookes 2022

Loving the enemy

 

Haiku for thinking again

Love your enemies.

Christians who play politics

must hate these verses.

When you’re addicted

to power you must put these

teachings on the shelf.

Generosity

and forgiveness, stumbling blocks

for the self-righteous.

Bless those who curse you,

turn the other cheek. Give stuff

away. Yeah, that works!

Deal with others

the way that you would like them

to deal with you.

Loving family

and friends is easy; any

ratbag can do that!

Be children of God

who blesses the wicked, too.

Give; expect nothing.

Be full of mercy.

Don’t judge, or condemn. Forgive,

just as you have been.

So many judge-y

Christians, ‘holier than thou,’

ignoring Jesus.

As you bless others

so you are blest. You decide;

become a blessing.

© Ken Rookes 2022

Be blessed

 

Haiku of reversal

They came to hear him;

a great crowd eager to learn,

and to be healed.

The unclean spirits,

whatever we make of them;

he dealt with them, too.

He pronounced blessings,

surprising, unexpected;

Blessed are you poor!

You who are hungry,

you will be filled! Strong echoes

of his mother’s song!

You who are hated,

becoming unpopular

for my sake, are blest.

Corresponding woes

are spelled out: You who laugh, must

take your turn to weep.

You who are wealthy

are going to miss out. You

have had your blessings.

The poor and the weak

heard his words with joy. Less so

the privileged ones!

© Ken Rookes 2022

From now on

Haiku for letting go.

Luke’s gospel story

has Simon owning a boat;

moved up in the world.

The fishing was poor

that day. Jesus made the boat

into a lectern.

Luke builds amazement.

Jesus directs the fishers,

tells them how to fish.

The nets are bursting

with the weight of the caught fish;

call the second boat.

Simon Peter falls

at Jesus’ feet. Leave me, Lord,

I am a sinner!

Jesus laughs, Fear not!

Come with me, and catch people

into God’s kingdom!

Four of them follow,

leaving it all to join him;

to be disciples.

© Ken Rookes 2022

Taking Offence

Haiku of confrontation.

He rolled up the scroll.

Here, today, as you hear them,

these words are fulfilled.

He has impressed them.

They speak well of him, amazed

at his gracious words.

This is Joseph’s son,

we watched him grow among us;

done well for himself!

Jesus provokes them

with his stories: No prophet

is welcome at home.

His words offend them;

in anger they drive him out,

threaten to kill him.

The crowd hesitates.

Jesus passes through their midst

and goes on his way.

When I take offence

at Jesus’ words and actions,

Lord, look with mercy.

© Ken Rookes 2022

Home town Nazareth

Haiku of the bold claim

Many were impressed

as Jesus begins to teach

in their synagogues.

Home town Nazareth.

The Sabbath; he stands to read.

Hand him the Prophet.

Reading Isaiah:

all expectation and hope.

I am anointed!

God’s Spirit drives me

with a message of freedom,

good news for the poor.

Release for captives,

sight for the blind, and the year

when God takes action!

He returns the scroll.

Here, today, as you hear them,

these words are fulfilled.

Never holding back,

Luke makes it plain for us all:

Jesus is the one.

© Ken Rookes 2022

Cana

 

Haiku of promise

Cana, the third day;

grounding it in time and space,

John says: This happened!

Jesus and his Mum,

invited to a wedding.

Great celebration!

Two people bringing

themselves, deeply committing

to life together.

They've run out of wine,

says his Mum, expectantly.

What will Jesus do?

It's not my problem,

not my time. She ignores him.

Do what he tells you.

Six stone water jars;

six hundred litres of plonk!

Somewhat excessive.

Water into wine,

ignoring chemistry's laws!

Some of us struggle.

The steward's impressed.

You have saved the best for last!

What a metaphor!

Life in abundance,

better than before; and with

the best yet to come.

© Ken Rookes 2022