“Rikki Tikki Tavi” The Kipling Society
Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72: 1-8
Luke 10:21-24
Sometimes, I read the lessons and, right away, visions and images come. When this happens, I look for Providence, as far-fetched as it might seem. (Years ago, rabbits were a sign of God reaching out to steady and support me in my despair.) As I reflected on today’s passages, I was struck by an outlandish image of God. And, I paid attention.
The Gospel reading focuses us on seeing, hearing, revealing, being more than imagining. The Psalm nurtures and speaks of one who defends, saves, and endures. The reading from Isaiah brought the image to me. As I read of the peace among the animals, in Isaiah 11:8 “…the infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest,” I was struck by the classic children’s tale of “Rikki Tikki Tavi” and God became to me a heroic mongoose. A sense of joy and safety came over me as I laughed and thought – remembering the mongoose, curious, watching, listening. The mongoose is more than what he seems, initially a half-choked drowning creature (much like a Moses,) whose gifts of seeing, hearing, and protection save the young son from snakes in the Rudyard Kipling story. During this season of watching for One Who Comes, we can praise God in all the images where we see and find him.
“Give him the thanks of the birds,
bowing with tailfeathers spread,
praise him with nightingale words…” (Rudyard Kipling)
May you see God today, Amen
– Maggie Grace Moore
