Suddenly a roar!

Pentecost Haiku

Seven weeks had passed.
His friends were all together,
gathered in one place.

Suddenly a roar
of rushing wind filled the house;
tongues of flame, resting.

Filled with the Spirit,
their tongues were released, speaking
other languages.

Outside in the street
the crowd from many nations
hear in their own speech.

They’re from Galilee,
yet we understand, as they
speak of God’s power!

Some ask, What means this?
Others scoff, sneering: They’re drunk
on too much new wine.

Peter stands up, speaks:
It’s too early to be drunk;
only nine a.m. !

In the prophet, Joel,
we read how God will pour God’s
Spirit on all flesh.

Young folk, old folk, slaves,
men and women; they shall dream
dreams and see visions.

It is coming near,
the Lord’s day; when all who call
on God’s name are saved.

© Ken Rookes 2024

I am currently focussing on the non-gospel readings in the Revised Common Lectionary. For the seventh Sunday in Easter it is the reading from Acts chapter 2, the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost For gospel readings check the archives for May 2021, 2018 and 2015, (and even 2012, which is when this blog began). For 2021 click here.

Which one?

Haiku for an ordered process

Calling a meeting
of the hundred and twenty,
Peter stood to speak.

Having defected,
Judas needs to be replaced.
Twelve is the number!

Some have been with them
since the beginning; from these
they select two men.

Joseph, Matthias,
these two are likely prospects.
They pray, and cast lots.

Lord, show us which one
you have chosen to serve Christ
as an apostle.

The lot fell upon
Matthias. He was brought in
to make up the twelve.

© Ken Rookes 2024

I am currently focussing on the non-gospel readings in the Revised Common Lectionary. For the seventh Sunday in Easter it is the reading from Acts chapter 1, where Peter leads the young church in a process of selecting an apostle to replace Judas. For gospel readings check the archives for May 2021, 2018 and 2015, (and even 2012, which is when this blog began). For 2021 click here.

Breaking through

Haiku of inclusion

He’d had a vision.
Didn’t know what it meant, ‘til
the foreigners came.

The Holy Spirit
took him from his comfort zone
to meet with gentiles.

While Peter still spoke
the gentiles, once excluded,
received the Spirit

The Holy Spirit
fell on the gentiles, forcing
Peter’s acceptance.

Peter’s companions,
good Jews, circumcised and all,
were suitably shocked.

They heard them speaking
in tongues, giving praise to God.
We’d best baptise them!

Stick around, Peter
we need to hear more of this
Jesus sent from God.

© Ken Rookes 2024

I am currently focussing on the non-gospel readings in the Revised Common Lectionary. For the sixth Sunday in Easter it is the Reading from Acts chapter 10, where Peter shares the gospel with the gentiles at the house of Cornelius. For gospel readings check the archives for April / May 2021, 2018 and 2015, (and even 2012, which is when this blog began). For 2021 click here.

Honour Board

For GOD and COUNTRY 1914 – 1919.
It is substantial, well designed,
skilfully fashioned and polished with pride;
the honour board in the Eaglehawk Church.
Methodist at the time.
A dignified timber record in seven gold-leafed columns
so that military service and sacrifice
would not be forgotten.

The gold continues to shine bright;
we will remember them.

The first column and a half
is reserved for Officers; Commissioned and Non.
A Chaplain makes a worthy start:
NYE E.W. Chap. Col.
Next comes POWELL A. Dr. Major D.S.O.
and then a V.C,! (SYMONS W. Capt.)
The others follow
all the way down, in order of rank,
to WILLIAMS S. Nurse.

From there the names run alphabetically
with little gold crosses
denoting those who made the ultimate sacrifice;
reflecting the tears shed.
This list concludes
halfway down the last column.

There, a new list is commenced
to complete the board.
The font is slightly smaller.
Men, perhaps now remembered
only in this one golden line,
are recognised for their faithful intent.
Fourteen loyal citizens,
grouped alphabetically
and honoured under the heading:
REJECTED VOLUNTEERS.

© Ken Rookes 2024

Darter

We have a number of Darters currently in residence at Lake Neangar, Eaglehawk. Magnificent birds, similar to cormorants, (we have those, too), with snake-like necks; they often stand with their wings out to dry,

Linocut approx. 300 x 800 mm.

The wilderness road

Haiku of inclusion and welcome

An angel told him:
take the wilderness road, south,
heading to Gaza.

Philip did as told,
not knowing who he would find.
He found a eunuch.

An important man,
the eunuch was heading home,
from Jerusalem.

In his chariot
reading Isaiah, puzzled
at what it might mean.

Do you understand?
Philip asked. I need someone
to guide me, he said.

Like a lamb, silent
before its shearer; this speaks
to us of Jesus.

They came to a pool.
What prevents my baptism?
the eunuch asked him.

He was baptised. The
Ethiopian entered
into God’s kingdom.

Outsider by race,
cut off in more ways than one;
he is made welcome.

© Ken Rookes 2024

I am currently focussing on the non-gospel readings in the Revised Common Lectionary. For the fifth Sunday in Easter it is the Reading from Acts chapter 8, where Philip is sent to share his faith with a eunuch from Ethiopia. For gospel readings check the archives for April / May 2021, 2018 and 2015, (and even 2012, which is when this blog began). For 2021 click here.

Much bolder than before

Haiku for preachers

Prisoner Peter,
now much bolder than before,
is charged with preaching.

His resurrection
words are an embarrassment
to temple leaders.

Rulers, elders, scribes
led by the chief priest, and friends,
call him to account.

From where does it come,
your power; and in whose name
have you done this thing?

Peter tells it straight.
You’re questioning a good deed?
A sick man is healed!

‘Tis in Jesus’ name,
the Christ who was crucified.
God raised him to life!

The stone rejected
by you, who were the builders,
is God’s cornerstone.

There is no other
name in heaven or on earth;
he is salvation.

© Ken Rookes 2024

I am currently focussing on the non-gospel readings in the Revised Common Lectionary. For the fourth Sunday in Easter it is the Reading from Acts chapter 4, where Peter is called before the religious leaders to give an account of his faith in the risen Christ. For gospel readings check the archives for April 2021, 2018 and 2015, (and even 2012, which is when this blog began). For 2021 click here.

Write your own haiku

Walking, praising God

Haiku of witness

People came running.
having seen the crippled man
walking, praising God.

Peter points to God.
Such power isn’t from us,
we can’t make him walk!

Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob; it was their God
who sent us Jesus.

You rejected him,
had him put to death, but God
raised him from the dead.

He was the author
of life, the one in whom all
people find true life.

By faith in Jesus
this man is healed and made strong;
you can all see this.

You and your rulers
were blinded. Prophets told us
the Christ must suffer.

You were ignorant,
now you know. Return to God,
and be forgiven.

© Ken Rookes 2024

I am currently focussing on the non-gospel readings in the Revised Common Lectionary. For the third Sunday in Easter it is the Reading from Acts chapter 3, where Peter gives an account of his faith in the risen Christ. For gospel readings, check the archives for April 2021, 2018 and 2015, (and even 2012, which is when this blog began). For 2021 click here.

It happens in war