Isn't it astonishing that the three "Magi" from the east recognize and worship Jesus before anyone else does?

I mean, these are not only foreigners, but priests for different religions. Yet they recognize the signs of the times, and acknowledge the birth of the "King of the Jews" long before any of the religious leaders of Israel even notice him. It would be akin to the Dali Llama announcing that the Second Coming of Christ was taking place. Would we trust his insight?

Today's celebration suggests that we should.

Epiphany teaches us that God speaks to and through all peoples, regardless of the race or creed. The Magi go to great lengths to pay homage to Jesus, traveling across a continent and bringing costly gifts. They have earned their place in history as people of faith, who followed the truth even though it led them away from home, and away from the religion of their culture.

We learn in today that there are no limitations on how God can work in our world. God can work through astrologers. God can work through earthly kings. God can work through the stars in the sky.

We are called to be prepared to recognize and worship God in any circumstance. That is the miracle of the Christmas season --- the love of God can come to us in a form that we would never expect. God comes to us through a baby, a migrant family, a group of holy foreigners.

Perhaps the Magi recognized the birth of Christ because they had no expectations of what it was supposed to look like. They noticed something taking place in the heavens. They decided to investigate. They followed the star until they found where it lead. They asked for guidance and help from other learned people along the way. They sought truth without prejudice. They found it. They recognized it. They worshiped it.

I have a friend who was distraught to learn that she was never baptized. She is not a Christian, and doesn't think she believes in God. But something stirred in her at the news that she was not baptized. She wants to learn more about the sacrament. She senses a truth that may have eluded her. She wants to find it.

God can and will speak to us at any time, through any person, event or encounter. Perhaps God is speaking to us now through a co-worker, a friend, a family member. They may not believe. They may not understand entirely the message they bear.

We celebrate in this season a wrinkle in time, a moment where infinite love collapsed into a finite form, an event that split history in two. Everything is before and after that moment for those who believe.

Those who were looking most intently for the Messiah did not see his arrival. Those were seeking truth without prejudice about what form it would take were able to recognize that holy moment. Let us pray we receive the grace to do the same.

Bill Peatman writes from Napa.