With time running out

Haiku for decisions

With time running out

Jesus knew that he must go

to Jerusalem.

The company came

to a Samaritan town,

but they were rebuffed.

Why Jerusalem?

If you’re only passing through

don’t bother to stay.

We should punish them;

call down fire! said James and John.

Jesus rebuked them.

I will follow you,

a man said. Foxes have holes,

but I am homeless.

I will follow you,

a man said, but I must wait

for father to die.

The dead must bury

their own. Leave them, you must go

proclaim God’s kingdom.

I will follow you,

but first I must say farewell

to my family.

To plough a straight line

you cannot keep looking back;

likewise the kingdom.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Gerasene contry

Haiku for crazy people

Gerasene country:

among the tombs and the swine,

the broken man roams.

Naked to the world,

cut off from society

he is in torment.

With shackles and chains

they have tried to restrain him.

The man is too strong.

When Jesus arrives

Legion comes to confront him,

bringing his demons.

Whether it’s demons,

mental illness, brain damage;

he still needs healing.

The swine dash headlong

into the lake, carrying

dark spirits with them.

The towns-people came

and found the man clothed and sane,

sitting with Jesus.

Please leave us Jesus,

it’s all too much, we’re frightened!

So he departed.

Let me come with you,

the man begged. No, said Jesus,

Go, declare God’s deeds.

So the man went home

restored; to live, to love, and

to tell his story.

© Ken Rookes 2019

One and three.

Grappling haiku

They call it myst’ry

this trinity thing, holding

concepts in tension.

After all these years

I still don’t really get it.

I don’t think God minds.

Think how Parent God,

with Jesus and the Spirit,

strangely coalesce.

One God, three persons,

traditional formula:

all else heresy!

Does our imagined

God monitor errant thoughts;

scoring our faith?

Perhaps I also

am heretic. Woe is me!

Or does it matter?

The truth that matters:

God somehow strangely present

in our loving deeds.

O Holy Spirit,

Divine Parent and His Son,

let me live in you.

© Ken Rookes 2019

The Spirit will come

Haiku of promise

They sing lots of songs,

sweet romantic songs of love,

to Jesus on high.

Do you cringe at them,

those romantic songs of love,

Jesus, Son of Man?

If we love Jesus

it’s not about singing songs,

but obedience.

Pouring his Spirit

on the ones who prove their love,

doing what he says.

The Spirit will come

to abide in and with you,

present in my place.

He stands beside you,

an advocate and teacher,

recalling my words.

I give you my peace,

my Spirit and my presence

to guide your living.

When the troubles come

let your hearts rise above them;

do not be afraid.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Praying for his friends

Haiku to unite

He’s praying for them.

Jesus knows his time is near,

and prays for his friends.

Knows the day comes near

when they will need each other

and must stand as one.

Not just for his friends

but for those who hear their words;

he prays for them, too.

This unity thing:

Jesus one with his Father,

Jesus one with us.

I and you and them;

much mutual indwelling

speaking unity.

From the beginning,

splashing over ev’ryone,

love, divine and true.

Witness to the world

with your unity and love,

prove that you are mine.

A love explosion!

Yours for me, growing in them,

united in love.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Now that day was a Sabbath

Haiku by the pool.

In Jerusalem

many invalids, blind, lame,

wait beside the pool.

When the water stirs,

according to tradition,

healing is present.

Portico people

hoping for this lottery

to deliver life.

At the Sheep Gate pool

the lame man lies, unable

to enter in time.

Jesus came, asking

Do you want to be made well?

Did he need to ask?

Stand, he told the man,

Take your mat and take a walk.

That is what he did.

It was the Sabbath

when Jesus made the man well;

most reckless of him.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Commandment

Haiku of supreme importance

People sing Glory!

raising hands in ecstacy;

doesn’t mean a thing.

Don’t care what you say,

there’s just one way to glory;

a pathway through death.

Soon I will be gone,

you cannot go there with me,

where I am going.

Listening to God,

following God’s commandments;

these things bring glory.

Another command,

(call it new, but it’s been said),

just love each other.

Actions filled with love!

This is how I have loved you;

that’s what you must do.

Everyone will know

that you belong to my group

when you live in love.

There’s no other way,

forget raised arms, words and songs:

it’s only by love.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Tell us plainly

Haiku of the sheep

Who are you? they ask.

Tell us plainly, are you he

who God is sending?

You’re not serious,

he answered them. I’ve told you,

but you won’t believe.

You aren’t intrested

in what I have to tell you,

so stop pretending.

My sheep hear my voice,

they listen to my teachings

and they follow me.

I give them my life

and so we walk together

towards God’s kingdom.

They need have no fear;

I hold these sheep in my hand.

God gave them to me.

We act together,

the Father and I; working

to bring life and hope.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Going fishing

Going fishing

Piscatorial Haiku

Seven disciples

decided to go fishing:

found themselves a boat.

They went out at night

hoping that the fish would come

but they caught nothing.

Standing on the shore

the stranger shouted advice:

Try the other side!

The nets are breaking;

It must be the Lord! they shout.

Peter heads ashore.

A lakeside fire,

a breakfast of bread and fish

with their risen Lord.

Jesus asks Peter:

Simon, do you love me more?

Lord, you know I do.

Simon, feed my lambs.

Twice more Jesus questions him:

How do you love me?

Eventually

even Simon must get it;

love made real by deeds.

He said, Feed my sheep,

take care of my little lambs.

It’s all about love.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Not unless I see

Haiku of growing hope.

Sunday evening.

The disciples locked the doors,

fearing they were next.

The women’s stories

which might have brought them some hope

went disregarded.

Jesus came and stood

before them: Peace be with you!

His friends were perplexed.

He shows them his hands

to help put their minds at ease.

Yeah, right; that’ll work!

There is rejoicing

along with bewilderment.

The stories were true‽

He sends his friends out,

breathing his Spirit, charging

them to forgive sin.

The absent Thomas,

could not believe that he lives.

Not unless I see!

Seven days later,

so John tells us, Jesus came,

to meet them once more.

Here I am, Thomas!

See the nail-marks in my hands,

touch my wounded side.

Falling to his knees

Thomas cries: My Lord, my God!

Finally convinced.

You see and believe?

Blessed are those who believe

who don’t get to see!

Jesus did much more.

Were the stories written down

they would fill volumes.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Notre-Dame de Paris

Notre-Dame de Paris.

Grand reliquary;

centuries of prayers and tears

escape with the smoke.

© Ken Rookes 2019