Which is Easier?

Gospel: Luke 5: 17-26

A paralyzed man is brought to Jesus for healing, whereupon Jesus forgives his sins, then heals him of his paralysis.  In the ancient world these two phenomena were intertwined: sin and physical malady went hand in hand, so to deal with one the healer had to deal with the other.  

This encounter leads to a controversy with the religious authorities, in the midst of which Jesus asks an important question: which one is easier to do - heal the physical malady, or forgive sins? On the surface, this seems like an easy question to answer, but consider...

Consider how much time, resources, and human labor goes into the research, testing, and ultimate cure of physical maladies.  The numbers are astounding, and it often takes many years before a cure is found.  The human community invests a great deal in these endeavors, and it is important to do so.

Now consider how much time, resources, and labor we put into forgiving others of sins.  The quantity is far less, evidenced by the fact that we will hold grudges for years, take revenge upon another at the drop of a hat, and go to war over the slightest of things.  And yet the ability to forgive is within the power of every human person.  It costs us nothing except our own pride, and it takes less time to discover if we are willing to find it.