The Ungrateful Mouse
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series IV, Cycle A
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. (v. 3)
Once upon a time there was a magical old hermit who lived in the forests of India. He spent his time meditating and praying to God. One day the old man was sitting in the forest meditating. A tiny little mouse ran by him when suddenly a big crow came lunging down after the little mouse. The bird's claws were stretched out ready to grab the mouse and gobble him up.
Swiftly the old man jumped up and snatched the tiny mouse out of the bird's claws. He then shooed away the crow. The kind old hermit took the mouse to his little hut in the forest where he gave the mouse rice to eat and milk to drink. He said to the mouse, "Don't worry, little mouse. I will take care of you."
No sooner had he spoken these words than a hungry cat crept toward the hut with his eyes piercing the tiny mouse. So the old hermit used his magic to turn the tiny mouse into a great big cat. Frightened, the smaller cat ran away hungry.
All was fine until that night, when a big mangy mutt lumbered into the forest. When he came upon the cat, a chase ensued. The noise woke the magical hermit. When he saw the snarling mutt, he turned the cat into an even bigger dog. The mutt ran away with his tail between his legs.
Peace was fleeting though. Soon afterward, a hungry tiger came prowling through the forest. The tiger was ready to spring on the dog. Fortunately, the old hermit was praying nearby. With a nod of his head and an incantation, the hermit turned the dog into a larger tiger. The mere shock of it all sent other the tiger away confused.
The tiny mouse had been transformed into a mighty tiger. No one would dare provoke him now. But pride accompanied his transformation. All day long he strutted through the forest. He bragged about how big he was - lording it over all the other animals. He began to order them around as if he ruled the forest.
The hermit noticed the change in the animal. He reprimanded him, saying, "Why are you acting like you are better than everyone else? Remember, you were once just a tiny little mouse. You wouldn't even be alive if I hadn't saved you!"
By this time the tiger was full of himself. He muttered under his breath, "I don't have to listen to this! I'm bigger than that old man. I'll kill him!"
So the next day, as the kind old hermit was sitting and praying, the huge tiger crept up behind him. He crouched into pouncing position. He stuck out the razor--sharp claws on his front paws. And then he quickly and powerfully lunged at the hermit.
But the old man had seen the tiger coming. With a wave of his hand, he changed the mighty tiger back into a tiny mouse. The mouse tumbled helplessly to the ground. The hermit sighed, "You ungrateful creature! You thought you were better than everyone else, but you forgot who made you strong and powerful!"
And with those words, the frightened little mouse ran off into the forest never to be heard from again.
Once upon a time there was a magical old hermit who lived in the forests of India. He spent his time meditating and praying to God. One day the old man was sitting in the forest meditating. A tiny little mouse ran by him when suddenly a big crow came lunging down after the little mouse. The bird's claws were stretched out ready to grab the mouse and gobble him up.
Swiftly the old man jumped up and snatched the tiny mouse out of the bird's claws. He then shooed away the crow. The kind old hermit took the mouse to his little hut in the forest where he gave the mouse rice to eat and milk to drink. He said to the mouse, "Don't worry, little mouse. I will take care of you."
No sooner had he spoken these words than a hungry cat crept toward the hut with his eyes piercing the tiny mouse. So the old hermit used his magic to turn the tiny mouse into a great big cat. Frightened, the smaller cat ran away hungry.
All was fine until that night, when a big mangy mutt lumbered into the forest. When he came upon the cat, a chase ensued. The noise woke the magical hermit. When he saw the snarling mutt, he turned the cat into an even bigger dog. The mutt ran away with his tail between his legs.
Peace was fleeting though. Soon afterward, a hungry tiger came prowling through the forest. The tiger was ready to spring on the dog. Fortunately, the old hermit was praying nearby. With a nod of his head and an incantation, the hermit turned the dog into a larger tiger. The mere shock of it all sent other the tiger away confused.
The tiny mouse had been transformed into a mighty tiger. No one would dare provoke him now. But pride accompanied his transformation. All day long he strutted through the forest. He bragged about how big he was - lording it over all the other animals. He began to order them around as if he ruled the forest.
The hermit noticed the change in the animal. He reprimanded him, saying, "Why are you acting like you are better than everyone else? Remember, you were once just a tiny little mouse. You wouldn't even be alive if I hadn't saved you!"
By this time the tiger was full of himself. He muttered under his breath, "I don't have to listen to this! I'm bigger than that old man. I'll kill him!"
So the next day, as the kind old hermit was sitting and praying, the huge tiger crept up behind him. He crouched into pouncing position. He stuck out the razor--sharp claws on his front paws. And then he quickly and powerfully lunged at the hermit.
But the old man had seen the tiger coming. With a wave of his hand, he changed the mighty tiger back into a tiny mouse. The mouse tumbled helplessly to the ground. The hermit sighed, "You ungrateful creature! You thought you were better than everyone else, but you forgot who made you strong and powerful!"
And with those words, the frightened little mouse ran off into the forest never to be heard from again.
