The man had two sons

for the fourth Sunday in Lent. See note below

Haiku of grace and resentment

The man had two sons,

Loved them both. The younger one

was eager to leave.

My inheritance,

give me my share now, before

I become too old.

When your years are few,

the party goes on and on;

while the money lasts.

All good things must end.

The cash gone, the boy must work;

starves, while the pigs eat.

Heading for his home,

practising his ‘sorry’ speech:

I am unworthy!

Dad is delighted,

his son is back. Let’s party;

kill the fatted calf!

The older brother

spits the dummy. All these years,

not even a kid!

I am deserving,

my useless brother is not;

I won’t celebrate!

You know I love you,

my Son, you’re always with me;

all that’s mine is yours

Your brother was lost,

now he’s been restored to us:

we have to rejoice.

Try not to resent

the unworthy who receive

their moment of grace.

Remember, you too,

though unworthy, profited

from moments of grace.

© Ken Rookes 2019

I have mistakenly posted this out of sequence: It belongs to the 4th Sunday in Lent. Sorry for the confusion.

We are one

We are one

Human people

children, women, men;

created, according to one ancient tradition,

from the dust of planet earth.

Creatures of flesh,

breathing air, touched by spirit;

blood filled, pulsing, warm with life.

Dust, not stone.

Together in our humanness.

Lives intertwined, connected,

bound up with each other;

one.

Your joys are my joys,

your loss I feel as my own,

your pain and your anguish are mine.

My hope grows together with yours.

We use different names

to describe the mystery

and the source of our being,

we know that no single name

no individual understanding

can ever be complete

or exhaust that mystery.

We struggle together

striving after truth,

leaning towards love;

always reaching.

We choose hope over fear

generosity ahead of greed,

love before hatred.

Always love.

Always forgiveness,

always friendship;

always we will strive to understand

our sisters and brothers

so that we might build

a future of compassion,

of justice and of peace.

We will not turn away

when we see people brutalised and suffering.

Whether their names are known to us

or strangers at a distance seeking our help,

we will stand with them.

We will put aside our hearts of stone,

our suspicious thoughts and our jealousies.

We will not speak words that lead to fear,

or hatred;

nor will we listen to them.

We will trust ourselves to love.

Though selfishness and fear

should surround us, they shall not prevail.

We will put aside despair,

and walk determinedly upon uncertain paths

towards a future of hope.

We shall trust ourselves to love.

We are one.

Let me serve you,

help you, encourage you,

embrace you.

We are one.

You are my sister, my brother

my child, my parent,

my neighbour, and my friend;

I find my true self in you.

Together we will dance,

we will sing, chant, and shout.

We will walk hand in hand,

discover ing wonders,

creating possibilities;

working and building,

crying and laughing.

We will pour ourselves out in an offering of love.

We will strive,

stand and struggle together,

defiantly;

knowing that none of us

will be fully alive

until we do.

We are one.

© Ken Rookes 2019

This is a revision of my earlier post. We used it as an affirmation at our Combined Churches - RAR   Palm Sunday Gathering for Peace, Justice and Inclusion last Sunday.

To become fruitful

To become fruitful

Haiku for gardeners

Rotten stuff happens

to both good and bad people;

it’s not punishment.

When people suffer,

have empathy; don’t blame them

for imagined sins.

These words are for all;

reflect on where you’re headed,

be ready to change.

A vineyard owner

plants a fig tree, comes looking

for fruit. There is none.

Three years to produce

and still the tree is barren.

Let us get rid of it.

The gardner shows grace.

One more year, some manure

and care: Let’s see.

Always one more chance.

So our master seeks for us

to become fruitful.

The chance to bear fruit;

justice, love and hope-filled peace.

Always one more chance.

© Ken Rookes 2019

O Jerusalem!

Haiku for those who will not.

O, Jerusalem,

greatest city of them all;

most to be pitied.

The Pharisees warn,

Get away from here, Jesus;

Herod wants your life.

O, Jerusalem;

entitlement and power,

keenly defended.

The perfect venue

for the killing of prophets,

O, Jerusalem!

Jesus will return

to the great city one day,

to meet destiny.

Jesus is weeping

for Jerusalem’s children,

who turn from God’s love.

As a hen enfolds

her brood with protective wings,

so I would love you.

Yet you would not come.

You made your choice, live with it;

I have done my best.

One day you’ll see me

and shout: Blessed, he who comes

in the name of God!

© Ken Rookes 2019

A lot of testing

He’s been doing a lot of testing

this devil fella.

Tried it on with Jesus.

What do you want? We can sort it for you.

Comfort? Wealth!

We’ll put you into the top ten percentile,

(that’s half of the nation’s wealth),

you won’t ever need to work again.

We can arrange some good tax breaks, too;

we’ve got some top-shelf accountants on our lists.

Celebrity?

The film crew will be around in the morning.

You can relax, it’s been a long time since fame

was a function of achievement.

A small team of spin -doctors;

should be able to provide

the fifteen-second witticisms

needed to satisfy the media.

Twitter works well.

Power? Influence?

Bit too late to choose your school,

but you’ll find that your hitherto mentioned wealth

will go a fair way towards compensating

for your parents’ oversight.

Just a couple of principles; commit them to memory

and roll them off the tongue when called upon.

You’ve worked hard and deserve everything you’ve got.

You are a generous person,

but you can’t be held responsible

for other people’s failures.

It’s people like you who keep the economy ticking over;

they should be grateful.

There you go! What more could you want?

We’ll go ahead, then?

Did you say, No?

Really?

What’s God got to do with it?

© Ken Rookes 2019

Intimations

Intimations

Haiku of wonder

Transfiguration

intimations of glory;

he must be the one.

Great stories are told

to further prove the greatness

of one we call Christ.

The stage is prepared:

for a sacred drama, here,

upon a mountain.

Lots of heavy stuff

happens high up in mountains;

just ask Elijah.

Elijah is there,

along with Moses, talking

with Jesus, shining.

Prophet, lawmaker,

they converse with one who will

surpass both of them.

The cloud voice echoes:

this is my Son, the chosen,

listen to his voice.

His bewildered friends

have no idea what it means,

or who they follow.

The story is told

across two millennia;

and still we wonder.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Love your enemies

Impossible haiku

Love your enemies:

surely the most laughable

of all his commands.

Easily dismissed

when fear is cultivated

to harvest power.

The title, ‘Christian,’

becomes robbed of its meaning

by those who must hate.

Bless those who curse you,

pray for those who abuse you.

More futile commands.

Even bad people

love those who return their love;

be better than that.

Would you follow him;

this man who insists on love

ahead of all else?

Real love is one-way,

not a bargain or a deal,

expects no return.

Generous, like God,

love is extended to all;

you don’t pick and choose.

Don’t be judgmental,

don’t condemn those who fall short,

practice forgiveness.

When it comes to love,

aim high, and don’t be afraid

to fail, says Jesus.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Blessings, surprising and unexpected

Haiku for a revolution

The place was level,

a good site for straight talking.

Useful metaphor.

They sensed his power

to bring freedom and healing,

not to mention hope.

He pronounced blessings

surprising, unexpected,

to those without hope.

The poor are promised

entry into God’s kingdom :

what more could they ask?

Those who are hungry

will be filled, the ones who weep

will have cause to laugh.

Are all these blessings

to be made real in this life?

And why shouldn’t they??

Along with blessings,

a series of woes are dealt

to those who have, now.

More flammable words

of gospel revolution

to upend the world.

Words to discomfort

the rich and the powerful,

but they don’t listen.

Here too, a blessing

for those who would follow him:

you will be reviled.

© Ken Rookes 2019

They came to listen

Haiku for net leavers

They came to listen,

to hear what he had to say;

the Nazareth man.

Some said that he spoke

direct words from the Father.

They pressed in on him.

Two boats at the shore.

He employs one to teach from;

a floating platform.

The lesson concludes.

Take the boat out, he tells them,

and let down your nets.

The fish aren’t biting.

what would be the point? they say.

Yet, if you insist.

The nets are soon filled,

nearly breaking with the strain.

The other boat comes.

Simon, James and John,

fishing partners, are amazed;

can’t believe their eyes!

Boat owner Simon,

falls before him, cries: Depart!

I am not worthy!

Stick with me, he said

we’ll catch people, netting them

into God’s kingdom!

When they reached the shore

the fishermen left their nets

and followed Jesus.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Won't be who you want

Haiku for causing offence.

They spoke well of him.

impressed by the things he said,

gracious, filled with hope.

Local boy makes good!

We remember Joseph’s son;

yes, he’s one of us!

He can’t let it rest.

I’m not who you think I am,

won’t be who you want.

There are no home town

prophets. Their honour is found

in other places.

Elijah went not

to help Israel’s widows,

but one in Sidon.

Prophet Elisha

cleansed the Syrian leper;

none from Israel.

I’m no longer yours.

Other folk will find more faith,

receive the blessings.

In the synagogue

the people rise up with rage

at the things he said

They would have killed him,

thrown him down from the cliff top,

but they changed their minds.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Home town Nazareth

Haiku for returning.

Across Galilee

Jesus spoke of God’s good news;

the people listened.

They liked what he said,

and praised him for his message;

his words gave them hope.

Home town Nazareth:

he went to the synagogue

and stood up to read.

They gave him the scroll.

Prophet Isaiah. He found

the words, read them out.

The Spirit of God

rests on me, I bring good news

to those who are poor.

I proclaim release,

the recovery of sight,

freedom and blessings.

And then he sat down.

Today, he said, this scripture

is being fulfilled.

Today? Yes today!

You who hear these words this day,

lift your hearts, rejoice!

© Ken Rookes 2019