"Both readings today speak of God and Jesus as the Shepherd of his people, especially of the weak and the lost. (The first reading from Isaiah is particularly beautiful and should be read). In the Gospel, Jesus gives a parable of the shepherd, a parable about himself. It is of a shepherd who has lost just one sheep out of a hundred. Yet he leaves all the 'good' ones and goes in search of the stray. It does not say why this one sheep wandered off. All that matters is that it has got lost and is separated from its shepherd. And, when he finds it and brings it back, he is happier over this lost sheep than he is over the ninety-nine who never wandered away. This being a parable there is probably a little exaggeration here because, of course, the real Shepherd loves all his sheep equally. But a point is being made: that our God loves us unconditionally and is not only ready to have us back in the fold but is positively overjoyed about it. This parable can be applied both to those 'little ones' who were led astray or those who did the terrible thing of leading them astray. Both will be welcomed back with equal joy. And we might ask ourselves how ready are we to receive back those who have wronged us, not just grudgingly but with joy.