Children's Liturgy Guide

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year B · Ordinary Time

Jesus Helps a Man Hear

Reading: Mark 7:31-37

Leader Prep

Don't worry about doing this perfectly. If the children hear one good idea about God, Jesus, prayer, kindness, forgiveness, or the Gospel, this time has been worthwhile.

Summary

In today's reading, people bring a man who cannot hear or speak clearly to Jesus. Jesus touches the man's ears and tongue, says a special word, and opens his ears so he can hear and speak plainly. Jesus wants to help us in amazing ways too.

Key Points

  • Jesus showed love and care by helping someone who could not hear or speak
  • People brought their friend to Jesus because they believed Jesus could help him
  • Jesus used touch and words to heal the man, showing his special power from God
  • The people were amazed and said Jesus does everything well

Background

This miracle account emphasizes Jesus' divine authority over physical ailments and his compassion for the marginalized. The Aramaic word 'Ephphatha' (be opened) reveals the intimate, personal nature of Jesus' healing ministry. The deaf man would have been socially isolated in ancient culture, unable to fully participate in community life. Jesus' method of healing, touching ears and tongue, was physical and personal, not distant. The command to silence (the 'Messianic secret') reflects Mark's theological concern that Jesus' identity be understood through the cross, not miracles alone. For children, emphasize that Jesus cared deeply about this man who was struggling, that friends brought him to Jesus, and that Jesus can help us with our problems too. Set aside the complex theology of the Messianic secret and focus on Jesus' compassion and power to help.

Session Flow

Opening Prayer

Invite the children to pray with you, then read the opening prayer below. If many don't know the sign of the cross, teach the whole group.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Dear Jesus, thank you for loving us and caring about us when we are hurting. Please open our ears today to hear your words and help us share your love with everyone we meet. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Warm-up

Ask the warm-up question before the reading. There are no wrong answers; this is just to help the children connect today's reading to their own lives.

Have you ever tried to tell someone something important, but they could not hear you or understand you? What was that like?

Example: One time I was trying to tell my mom something at the playground but she was far away and could not hear me, so I had to run all the way over to her.

Bridge to the reading: It can be really hard when we cannot hear or when others cannot understand us. In today's reading, we will hear about a man who could not hear anything at all, and his friends brought him to Jesus for help.

Read the Scripture

Read the day's selected passage aloud. The full Scripture text is not included here. Use a Children's Lectionary if your parish has one available. A children's Bible may also be helpful for younger children. Otherwise, read from a standard lectionary, Bible, or USCCB.org. Read slowly, with short pauses.

Reading Questions

Ask the questions conversationally. You do not need to use every question if time is short. The example answers are for leader preparation, not scripts or required answers.

  1. Who did the people bring to Jesus in this story?

    Example: The people brought a man to Jesus who could not hear anything and who had a really hard time talking and speaking clearly.

  2. What did Jesus do to help the man? What parts of the man did Jesus touch?

    Example: Jesus put his fingers in the man's ears and touched his tongue, and then he looked up to heaven and said a special word.

  3. What special word did Jesus say to the man, and what did it mean?

    Example: Jesus said the word Ephphatha, and it means be opened, like telling the man's ears to open up and start working.

  4. Why do you think the people were so amazed after Jesus healed the man?

    Example: I think they were amazed because they had never seen anyone do something like that before, and now the man could hear and talk perfectly.

Application Questions

Use these questions to help the children connect the reading to their own lives this week. Simple, concrete answers are best.

  1. How do you think the man felt when he could finally hear sounds and voices for the very first time?

    Example: I think he felt so happy and excited because he could hear birds singing and his friends talking and all the wonderful sounds around him.

  2. The man's friends brought him to Jesus because they cared about him. Who is someone you could help by bringing them to Jesus in your prayers?

    Example: I could pray for my grandma because sometimes she does not feel good and I want Jesus to help her feel better soon.

  3. This week, how can you be a good listener when someone in your family is talking to you?

    Example: I can stop playing with my toys and look at my mom or dad when they are talking so they know I am really listening to them.

Recap

Today we heard how Jesus healed a man who could not hear or speak clearly. People who cared about the man brought him to Jesus, and Jesus touched him and said be opened. The man could hear and speak! Jesus cares about us too and wants to help us, and we can bring our friends and family to Jesus through our prayers.

Prayer of the Faithful

Before returning to the assembly, invite the children to share their own prayer intentions. Their prayers may be serious, simple, funny, or very specific. After each child's prayer, the group may respond: "Lord, hear our prayer." Lastly, include the suggested prayer below.

For children who have trouble hearing or speaking, that Jesus will comfort them and help them, we pray to the Lord.

Mass Connection

If time allows, point out this connection just before returning to Mass. This helps children see that Children's Liturgy is still part of the Mass.

Just before Communion, the priest says 'Behold the Lamb of God' and we respond 'Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.' Like the man in today's reading who was healed by Jesus' words, we ask Jesus to heal us with his words too.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Loving Jesus, thank you for showing us how much you care about people who are hurting. Help us to listen with open ears and to bring our friends and family to you in prayer. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ChildrensLiturgy.org

Jesus Helps a Man Hear

Mark 7:31-37

Word Search

Optional activity: use the word search after the discussion if you have time, or send it home with the children. The words relate to today's Children's Liturgy Scripture passage.

A E T U H Q R A O C D O V N X
O H E A L S G M X O O K V R L
E J Q K O V H A F Z I M K E X
U E S J S L N Z F L U V U Y Q
V S T E D I L E E D O U L A W
B U S O N S T D S R A E R R H
I S U G E P B Z X J S M F P M
Z D K K I Y T S N R H B Y L Q
K E F H R D V B Y B C K M I N
D N N E F H R C I Q U V E S S
B E H A K A E P S A O U U T W
Z P T R G I W U C E T H G E V
G O P X Y M Y W U L O W N N J
C N Q D O X S I C A Z A O B R
T A W V Y U F M G W P U T A W

Words to find

  • Jesus
  • hear
  • speak
  • ears
  • tongue
  • opened
  • heal
  • friends
  • listen
  • amazed
  • touch
  • prayer

ChildrensLiturgy.org