7th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” (Mk 2:1-12)

Jesus is savior. He frees us from our sins by offering us forgiveness. That was why he told the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven." But he does more than that. He also gives us the power to win in the struggle not to fall into sin.

STORY

Some years ago on a hot summer day in South Florida a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, hot realizing that as he swam towards the middle of the lake an alligator was swimming toward the shore.

His mother, in the house looking out the window, saw the two as they got closer and closer to each other. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could.

Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother.

It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was Much too passionate to let go.

A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my mom wouldn't let go.!!

LESSON

Jesus is our savior. He wouldn't ever let go. He wouldn't ever abandon us to Satan. Still it is up to us to allow him to save us. It is also up to us not to let go.