Category: haiku

2015.03.03: a servant’s prayer

“The greatest among you must be your servant.” – Mt 23:11

Lord Jesus,
you gave me eyes to see
let me not look for the admiration of others
you gave me ears to hear
let me not listen for the applause of the crowd
you gave me a mouth to speak
let me not sing praises to false gods
you gave me hands to serve
let me not help only those who can pay
you gave me a heart to love
let me not love only those who love me
grant me, Lord, the heart of a servant
let me taste the cup which you offer
never let me be separated from you
again

2015.03.02: boundless giving

For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you. – Lk 6:38

all water flows to the ocean. what matters
is the path that water takes to the ocean.
some runs off rocks and sodden fields
into streams and rivers back to the ocean.
others are soaked into parched land turning
once desolate lands where seeds are hopefully
planted into fields of bountiful harvest. water
that is poured into the ocean is pointless,
perhaps even wasteful, but hoarding water
keeping it from flowing in containers is
selfish, the ultimate act of pride. no matter
how big the container is the water will
become stagnant, tepid, and poisonous.
likewise love should be free and
flowing as boundless as the
Giver from which it came.

2015.02.28: now is not the time to judge

“But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.” – Mt 5:44-45

the sun rises
on the bad and the good
who are we to judge

the rain fall
on the just and the unjust
who are we to judge

the wheat and the weeds
grow in the same field
who are we to judge

the sheep and the goats
graze in the same pasture
who are we to judge

there’s a purpose
for every creation under heaven
who are we to judge

ours is for living
ours is for loving
our is not to judge

there’s a season
for every purpose under heaven
now is not the time to judge

now is the time for living
now is the time for loving
now is not the time for judging

2015.02.22: fear not tempations

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.- Mk 1:12-13

those who see no temptations are blind
those who hear no temptations are deaf
those who suffer no temptations are dead
Jesus became human to suffer temptations
and triumph over them

we who are blind will see
we who are deaf will hear
we who are dead in sin
will be raised with him

Jesus came to proclaim the good news:
we can have life in abundance
all we have to do is
die
to ourselves
and follow him to the Father

fear not the temptations of our deserts
while only angels ministered to him
Jesus himself will tend to us
if our hearts be meek like his sheep

the time of fulfillment has come
the Kingdom of God is at hand
repent and live the good news