In the land where Jesus was born, in the fields of Palestine, there was a man who had a hundred sheep.

         This man was a shepherd.

         He took his lambs to the beautiful fields with great care and kindness, to a place where there was good pasture for them. He also led them to sources where they found fresh and clean water.

         The pastor was a very kind and good man; his sheep followed him confidently.

         One day, one lamb escaped from the flock. What would have thought the lamb, so as to leave the shepherd and all the other sheep?

         It certainly thought that there must be better and richer pastures out there, in addition to those pastures. Poor thing! It didn’t think about the dangers it might face away from the pastor. It didn’t think it could be completely alone at night, with wolfs or hyena hunting around… No, the sheep didn’t think about the dangers... It thought it was better to be alone and free; to be able to run through the fields and pastures, loose, without the supervision of its owner and without the company of the other sheep. It fled...

         It ran a lot, to get rid of the pastor and not be seen by the other sheep...

         In the next morning the pastor counted the lambs and was only able to find ninety-nine sheep. The pastor missed the fugitive lamb.

         What did the good shepherd do?

         He left the ninety and nine lambs in the sheepfold and set off in search of the stray sheep. He walked for a long time… The poor shepherd tried to find it in the close pastures… He walked a lot ... He climbed mountains and forded streams... On the next day, the poor lamb was found lying near a hill, hurt by the thorns for having gone through a hedge. It was helpless, hungry and almost dead! ...

         The sheep was so sorry for what it had done! The animal was so happy to see the pastor who came to save her!

         The pastor gave it water, cared for its wounds, stroked and talked to the poor animal... He then carried it on his shoulders, rejoicing. He felt very happy to have found his lamb.

         When he came home, he called together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them:

         - Rejoice with me, my friends, I have found my sheep which was lost.

         So - in the Gospel Jesus says - there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.