Advent Haiku 25: Christmas Day

This will be the final haiku in the series. Thank you to everyone who has taken this journey with me. I wish you all a happy Christmas filled with blessings of all kinds.

Sing out Maker's praise
He has come to save us all.
Christ is born today!

Advent Haiku 24: Christmas Eve

Darkness fills with light
Silent waiting turns to song
On this holy night

Advent Haiku 23: The Prince of Peace

Here is the last of my four haikus on Isaiah 9:6.

Born amid squalor

In a world still rent by war

Comes the Prince of Peace

I'm Dreaming of a Wet Christmas

I grew up in Connecticut and went to Michigan for Christmas most years. For those of you who aren't from America, those are both in the northern part of the country, and they get very cold, which means I'm used to white Christmases. In contrast, it pretty much never snows in Taiwan, except on some very tall mountains. It rains a lot, though, especially in the winter. As such, I think a certain classic Christmas song needs new words for people on this subtropical island to sing:

Wet Christmas

I'm dreaming of a wet Christmas

Just like the ones I used to know

Where the raindrops glisten

And children listen

To hear scooters on the road

I'm dreaming of a wet Christmas

With every Christmas card I get

So be merry, but don't forget

Your umbrella or you will be wet

Advent Haiku 22: The Fourth Candle

The fourth candle on an advent wreath is lit today, forming a complete circle on a standard wreath.

May this ring of light
Soon enfold our troubled world
Bringing it true peace

Advent Haiku 21: Preparation

Today's haiku takes a break from the story to focus on our lives. Advent is a busy time for many of us, and I think it's important to take time to stop and remember Christ's presence with us.

In the rush of life
Bells are ringing through the din
Listen for your Lord

Advent Haiku 20: The Shepherds (II)

Based on Luke 2:8-20.

Shepherds rose and went
To the newborn Lamb of God,
Their true Good Shepherd

Advent Haiku 19: The Angels

My interpretation of the angels' song in Luke 2:14.

Glory be to God,
Who comes, bringing peace to you
Who receive His grace.

Advent Haiku 18: The Shepherds (I)

Dozing by our sheep
(Counting them makes me sleepy)
All Heaven broke loose

Advent Haiku 17: To Bethlehem

We return to Joseph's perspective. Reference: Luke 2:1-5

Take my pregnant wife
All the way to Bethlehem?
Man, I hate taxes!

Advent Haiku 16: Everlasting Father

A third haiku on Isaiah 9:6.

Source of all that is
The everlasting father
Born of a young girl

Advent Haiku 15: The Third Candle

Through the night I sing
As I see the light approach
Three flames leap for joy

Advent Haiku 14: Waiting

Advent is a season in which sorrow mixes with joy. We feel the pain of a fallen world, which makes hope all the sweeter.

Mourning, we will wait
For the day when hope fulfilled
Chases tears away

Advent Haiku 13: Elizabeth

Confession time: I've always had a special place in my heart for Elizabeth because she shares my name. And since I've included haikus for her son and her husband, I think she should get one, too. This one is based on Luke 1:39-45.

She rejoices as
Son she never thought she'd see
Sees their savior come

Advent Haiku 12: Joseph

Joseph's response to the announcement of Jesus' coming birth:

This baby's not mine.
What's that? He's the son of God?
I guess I'll keep him.

Advent Haiku 11: Mary

Today's haiku is also about the annunciation of Jesus' coming birth, but it focuses on Mary's response.

Let God's will be done.
This is such an honor, but
What will I tell Mom?

Advent Haiku 10: Gabriel

The Christmas story proper begins with the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary that she was pregnant and would have a son.

Greetings, favored one!

Your Messiah's coming soon.

He will call you Mom.

Advent Haiku 9: Mighty God

Today I am going back to Isaiah 9:6 for a second haiku based on that verse.

Mighty God of hosts
Master of the universe
This helpless infant

Advent Haiku 8: The Second Candle

Light begins to grow

A mother's love now shelters

God's love made human

Advent Haiku 7: The Second Coming

As we remember the first coming of Christ, Advent is also a time when we look forward to His return.

Come, Emanuel,
Set Your throne upon the Earth,
Come to us again.

Advent Haiku(s) 6: St. Nicholas

Today is the feast day of St. Nicholas, and since he has such a big role in standard Christmas celebrations, I thought it would be nice to write about him.

The real Santa Claus
Brings a gift better than toys -
The gospel of Christ

I also came up with a "bonus haiku," but it requires a little historical background. During the Council of Nicea, at one point St. Nicholas lost his temper and punched Arius, who was arguing that Jesus was not really God.

Good St. Nicholas
Comes to bring nice children gifts
And smack heretics

Advent Haiku 5: Zechariah

Speaking of John the Baptist, here's a haiku (almost) about his father Zechariah. For reference, see Luke 1:5-25.

My wife have a son?
Angel, you must be confused.
That's impossi -

Advent Haiku 4: John the Baptist

John the Baptist appears in all four Gospel accounts, which makes me think he is more important than we give him credit for. For the first week of advent, I'm focusing on prophecy, and since John is the last prophet before the Messiah, I wanted to give him a place.

Born of old woman,
Old Covenant's last prophet
Makes way for the New.

Advent Haiku 3: Wonderful Counselor

This is the first of four haikus based on Isaiah 9:6. One of them is going to go up each week.

Word of God made flesh
Our Wonderful Counselor
Truth that walks and speaks

Advent Haiku 2: The First Prophecy

Today's haiku focuses on the first promise of the Messiah, found in Genesis 3:14-15.

First sin, first promise:
Woman's seed, though wounded, will
Squash that serpent flat.

Advent Haiku 1: The First Candle

Today marks the beginning of advent, the season of preparation for Christmas. During this season, I plan to post one haiku a day.

Darkness cloaks the earth
But the promise flickers on
One candle of hope