The shepherds were among the first to contemplate the glory of God in the newborn Jesus in the manger. Their simple faith and profound wonder are a source of inspiration for all those who seek to approach Christ with a humble and sincere heart. Here is a prayer from the shepherds to the Christ Child, an invitation to lay our lives before him with trust.
Prayer of the Shepherds to the Child Jesus
O Child Jesus, light of the world,
We come to you like the shepherds,
With simple hearts full of wonder,
To contemplate you in the manger,
You, the Son of God come among us.
We offer you our lives, our joys and our sorrows,
As the shepherds offered you their praise.
Accept our prayers and our hearts,
Humble though they may be,
For we know that your love is infinite.
Lord Jesus,
You who were born in poverty and humility,
Learn us to recognize your presence
In the simple things of life.
Help us to seek you not in greatness,
But in love and truth.
As the shepherds followed the angels' call,
Help us to follow your light
And to walk the path of faith.
Fill our hearts with your hope,
And make us witnesses to your peace.
O Divine Child,
We pray to you for the most vulnerable:
The poor, the forgotten, the lonely.
Help us to reach out to them generously,
As the shepherds shared their joy at seeing you.
Lord, increase in us the wonder
We feel on this Christmas night.
May we always know how to praise and thank you,
As these faith-filled shepherds did.
Finally, Child Jesus,
Stay with us, dwell in our hearts,
And guide us each day of our lives.
In your innocence and light,
We find true peace and love.
With faith and humility, we praise you,
You, the King of kings,
Born in a humble manger to save the world.
Amen.
The shepherds' prayer to the Christ Child is a simple yet profound act of faith, reminding us that Christ reveals himself first to the humble and to open hearts. By reciting this prayer, we join with these first witnesses to the Nativity in adoring and thanking Jesus for coming among us.
