St Paul's epistle to the Galatians was written in the 1st Century. Now, we are in the 21st Century. We praise God for over twenty centuries, where Christianity has made inroads to redress the distinction of race and backgrounds instigated by inferior cultures and clans. St Paul's exhortation to the Galatians enables us to see one another as equals, created in the image of God, deserving of the same promise God made to Abraham - to live in a land of milk and honey with descendants as many as the stars, a little too idealistic, maybe, but a consoling promise. This is the foundational value we refer to as we are placed in complicated relationships with our fellow citizens, in addition to the refugees, migrant workers, and illegals in our midst. St Paul's words to the Galatians are challenging. How does Christ want us to connect with them? Will we, individually, and as the Body of Christ, exercise our faith in Christ and treat unbelievers, and the ''aliens'' in our midst with faith and compassion?

Jesus gave his assurance to the hearers of his word that blessings are not guaranteed by biological birth, race or background. To all who have ears, listen again, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it". Our persevering efforts to live out not just the demands, but the promise of God, matters more than our distinctions of race and status.