Christmastide draws to a close

It isn't exactly twelve days after Christmas, but yes, Christmastide is about to draw to a close. Today is the feast of the Epiphany.

For starters, it commemorates the day the three wise men, or Magi, came to visit the newborn Jesus. The scriptures (especially the Gospel according to Mark) say that these wise men came from the east - chances are that they could've come from Babylon, all the way to Bethlehem, to pay homage to Him.

They came from a foreign land to witness the birth of a foreign king.

We wouldn't care less if a king was born elsewhere. If a king was born in our country, we'd pray for health and blessings over the royal family, perhaps.

But what made this visit all the more special, what proved Jesus Christ to be the Universal King is this : the three Magi were directed to His place of birth by a star.

Now, a star is something that no country can own. A star doesn't belong to Malaysia or Singapore or Japan or whatever country in the world. Everyone can see the same stars in the sky. We are all bound by the same sky, and the same destiny. And if these three wise men crossed the boundaries of their time just to visit the Christ, then it is only clear that Christ is the Universal King.

And, by the light of that same star, it is also made clear that nothing can separate us from the love of God. No, not race, not colour, not nationality. We are all equal.

So, the question I'd like to pose is this : Why do we accept this fact readily, but when we step out of church, we are so prejudiced towards one another ? We judge ! We condemn !

Why do we accept this fact readily, but the moment we step into our homes and our sons/daughters say that their love of their lives is of a different ethnic group, all hell breaks loose ?

Why is there indifference towards others' sufferings ?

Why the f*ing hell is there war ?

Perhaps this fact hasn't sunken into our minds yet. We need to hold this fact in our hearts and cherish it from the rest of our lives. And I need to be reminded of it constantly.

Now, repeat after me : Nothing, not even race, religion, nor nationality, no economic or social status, can separate us from the love of God.