Proclaim Like Shepherds, Pivot Like Magi: Prayer, Presence, Treasures!
- Jince Michael Mathew
- Dec 25, 2025
- 3 min read
What do you do after you've met the Savior? Imagine the shepherds, rough men from the hills, trembling under the blaze of angelic glory. They rush to Bethlehem, see the tiny King in a manger, and what happens next? They don't keep it to themselves—they spread the word! "When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child" (Lk 2:17). Their hearts overflow; they become the first evangelists, sharing the Good News that changes everything.
Then picture the Magi, wise men from the East, kneeling before the same Child, offering gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Warned in a dream, they leave for their country by another road (Mt 2:12). No going back the old way—their encounter with Christ redirects their entire journey. Christmas isn't just a visit; it's a turning point.
Today, in this time after Christmas—still glowing with the Jubilee light of 2025—these two verses are our guideposts. The shepherds teach us to proclaim, the Magi to change course. But how? In three concrete ways: Prayer, Presence, and sharing our Treasures. Let's unpack this together, drawing from the heart of our faith.
The Shepherds' Proclamation and the Magi's Turn: A Divine Invitation
Brothers and sisters, Christmas reveals God-with-us. The shepherds didn't stay silent; they "made known" the angel's message because encountering Christ compels witness. Like Saint Francis Xavier, who left worldly ambitions after meeting Ignatius, sailing perilous seas for 11 years to India, Japan, and beyond—preaching, baptizing thousands, catechizing children, caring for the sick and poor at the frontiers. He wrote of dangers turning to "heavenly consolations," weeping tears of joy, his zeal rooted in prayer and union with Christ. No "aristocratic" missionary, he went to the boundaries, dying at China's gates, a joyful witness.
The Magi, too, depart transformed—no return to darkness. Their "other road" mirrors Saint Peter Claver, Jesuit "slave of the negroes forever," who met slave ships in Cartagena, feeding, healing, baptizing over 300,000 amid filth and despair, using interpreters and pictures to instill dignity and faith. Or Saint Mother Teresa, called "within a call" to quench Christ's thirst in Calcutta's poorest, founding Missionaries of Charity—nearly 4,000 sisters in 123 countries—radiating love as "mother to the poor."
Even today, Graham Staines echoed this in India, burning with zeal for lepers among the outcast, forgiving his family's killers with heroic mercy—proclaiming Gospel through sacrificial presence. Mary Glowrey, pioneering doctor-missionary from Australia, crossed oceans to India's slums, building clinics and schools, her skills "shared treasures" healing bodies and souls, pivoting lives to Christ.
These lives proclaim like shepherds, pivot like Magi—prayer fueling zeal, presence transforming frontiers, treasures shared with the least. Pope Francis praised Xavier's fire: to restless youth, "Look to the horizons... have the courage to go," like today's missionaries.
Bringing It Home: Christmas Changes Everyday Paths
So, how does this hit our lives? The shepherds' sharing isn't optional—it's the Church's breath. Your family table, workplace grind, social media scroll—these are mission fields. Like the Magi, choose the "other road": ditch grudges, addictions, apathy. Christmas redirects us from consumerism to communion.
In our restless world, these saints heal: Xavier's prayer amid trials, Claver's service to slaves, Teresa's poor-focus, Staines' forgiveness, Glowrey's healing hands. You're not bystanders; you're sent.
Your Call: Three Ways to Live It Now
Here's your roadmap—Prayer, Presence, Sharing Treasures:
1. Prayer: Pray for Holy Spirit Missionaries.Start tonight: "Lord of the harvest, send laborers!" Like Xavier's mystical union or Claver's rigor, your words empower frontlines—evangelization begins with the Spirit. Make it family habit; watch God multiply.
2. Presence: Come to the Awake Conference, January 17, 2025.Clear your calendar—apply for leave, reschedule shifts. Like Glowrey sailing to India or Staines amid lepers, show up! This fuels missionary discipleship. Your presence ignites others—don't miss this spark!
3. Sharing Treasures: Support this ministry financially. Like the Magi's gifts or Teresa's beggar's bowl—"Give until it hurts"—share as credible communion sign. Your treasure sustains Gospel frontiers, quenching Christ's thirst today. View our donation page here
Go Forth, Transformed!
Brothers and sisters, Christmas lingers in action: proclaim like shepherds and Xavier, pivot like Magi and Claver. Through prayer for missionaries, presence at Awake, treasures shared freely, live their zeal—merciful like the Father!
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, born in Bethlehem, stir our hearts like Xavier, Claver, Teresa, Staines, Glowrey. Send your Spirit; draw us to mission; bless our shared treasures. Amen.
