Star of Wonder, Star of Light

“…তব পুণ্য-কিরণ দিয়ে যাক, মোর
মোহ-কালিমা ঘুচায়ে।
মলিন মর্ম মুছায়ে…”

It’s quite chilly out there. Fog all around, one’s cheeks can’t escape the cold knives of the northern winds here. 2020’s gloom winter is rather an epitome of all the blues we are going through currently. This seems to be the age when we continue to witness pandemics to economic downturns, heinous crimes to blatant lack of justice, the age when humans have exhausted even that last bit of faith in Humanity, in short. Nevertheless, as far as the human civilization is concerned, when its morale falls to unimaginable pits, somebody appears, and pulls us up as always.

The south-west corner of the sky is about to flood with the light of the apparent collision of Jupiter and Saturn, giving the illusion of an extremely bright star, right after few days from now. Moreover, it’s December. Last time this happened 800 years ago though at that time it was the month of March. Keeping in mind this extremely rare phenomenon’s convergence with the month of December this time, few renamed this ‘star’ as the ‘Star of Bethlehem’. ‘Star of Bethlehem’, that too visible in the south-west sky, sets up a perfect prelude, to a miracle, somewhat similar to Jesus’s birth, around 2000 years ago.

What if the star’s appearance signifies the much-needed cleansing the soul of mankind and driving away all evil and darkness? What if, after a year, finally we are going to get out of this darkness? The answers to these questions are in time’s hands. At the same time, if the crowning of this celestial event, to be the forbearer of good times, brings optimism to a weary soul, what is the harm?

The least we can expect now is, a messiah to be born in each of our souls; if not another great soul, who would be subjected to immense physical and mental pain and would still utter, “Forgive them my God, for they are neither aware of their deeds, nor the aftermath!”. While I excerpt from the hymn ‘Oh Little Town of Bethlehem’, the only thing we can say now, to the creator of this earth of fire and water is:

“…Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today….”.

Merry Christmas in advance.

“…. No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in…”