The Kind Stranger
Once in a peaceful village, there lived a boy named Samuel who couldn’t hear or speak. Although Samuel was a bright and joyful child, he often felt lonely because he couldn’t talk with his friends or hear their laughter. The other children in the village tried to include Samuel in their games, but it was hard for them to communicate with him, so Samuel spent a lot of time by himself.
One day, a kind stranger came to the village. His eyes were full of warmth, and wherever he went, people seemed happier. This stranger was Jesus. He noticed Samuel sitting quietly by himself and walked over to him. The villagers gathered around, curious to see what would happen.
Jesus knelt down next to Samuel and smiled. Although Samuel couldn’t hear, he felt a sense of peace and love coming from Jesus. Then, Jesus did something amazing—He gently touched Samuel’s ears and mouth. Suddenly, for the first time, Samuel could hear the sounds of the village! The rustling of the trees, the chirping of birds, and the laughter of the other children filled his heart with joy. Then, he opened his mouth and found he could speak! “Thank you!” he said, and everyone in the village rejoiced with him.
From that day on, Samuel could play and talk with his friends, and he always remembered the kind stranger who had given him this precious gift. Samuel knew that Jesus had healed him not just because He had the power to do so, but because He cared deeply for him.
Moral of the Story
Jesus cares for us and has the power to help us, no matter what we are going through. Just like Samuel, we should always trust in His love and compassion.
A children’s story based on the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time: Jesus heals a deaf and mute man, showing His compassion and power to restore, from the Gospel of Mark 7:31-37.