The Lame Match Seller

Once there was a match seller who was lame by birth. Though he was lame, he was a great devotee of Jesus Christ. He loved Christ so much that he sold matches just outside the church and stayed in the church during the nights and cold days.

His disability did not dishearten him as he was a great devotee. He was also liked by the priest of the church as he was sincere and also was the most regular visitor to the church.

The only period when he felt a bit sad was during Christmas as many people visited the church. Everyone wore new clothes and he had none. The other boys also made fun of his disability.

Once during his sleep, he had a vision of Jesus Christ.

He woke up from his sleep and found that blood was flowing out of the eye. He informed this at once to the priest who believed it at once.

He told the entire village the next day, to his dismay they ridiculed him more and said that he must have been dreaming. No one believed the story.

This brought the lame match seller to tears. He limped all the way to church and poured his grief in front of the Jesus idol. He cursed himself for telling them what he had seen.

The priest saw what he was doing. Instead of consoling him, he watched him as the statue of Jesus started to glow with a heavenly radiance. The match seller had a vision again, but this time he felt it.

He had a feeling of Jesus stroking his shoulder. He also heard Jesus say that the match seller could see him as his heart was pure and free from desires.

Jesus also mentioned that the priest could also se him as the priest had believed story of the match seller.The match seller requested Jesus to appear in front of the entire village so that they believe him.

Jesus readily obliged to appear on the gathering to be conducted on the next day. The next day was Christmas. The entire village had appeared to attend the gathering at the church.

The lame match seller limped to the statue of Jesus. Once again, the village made fun of him. As they spoke, they observed the statue of Jesus glowing with a heavenly luminosity and they fell silent.

Everyone in the church saw Jesus and right before their eyes he restored the power of movement to the lame match seller and bestowed him with enough fortunes to last for ever.

It is believed that his descendants still live with all the wealth the match seller had earned due to his sincerity.