Which is Easier?

Gospel: Matthew 9: 1-8

Consider the following scenario: you have an old friend you have been estranged from for a long time.  You discover that she has a terminal illness and the family has asked you to visit her.  You feel badly and go to visit, wanting desperately to heal this old friend.  Despite the best medical care available, this friend is not likely to recover.  You pray desperately for a miracle that likely will not come.

But what you can do for this friend - that which is in your power - is to repair the friendship that had been estranged, to forgive and to seek mercy.  The power to heal her physically is beyond you or anyone else at this point, but the ability to heal spiritually is within everyone's power.  And yet how much time and effort do we spend asking for miracles for things beyond our power, and so little time extending forgiveness and mercy that is within our power to give.  

Jesus asks all of us which is easier - to say your sins are forgiven, or to heal a crippled person?  The former is certainly much easier, and we all have the power to do so.  Imagine how much healing we can bring to the world if we use this power of forgiveness and mercy that we do have.