Pope Francis notes that in the Gospel reading, “we see the shepherd that loses one of 99 sheep. While he could rejoice that he still has 98 sheep, he goes out to search, and when he finds that one, he celebrates and is joyful. The joy of searching for faraway brothers and sisters is born in the same manner. This is the joy of the Church. It is precisely in this way that the Church becomes a mother and becomes fruitful. When the Church doesn’t do this, she stands still inside; she is closed within herself, even though she might be well organized. In this manner, she becomes discouraged, anxious, and sad about the Church, a Church that is more spinster than Mother, and this Church isn’t useful. Such a Church is no more than a museum. When the comfort of the Lord arrives, it disturbs us. It’s He, not we, who commands. God’s generosity cannot be transcended. You have sinned 100 times, partake 200 times of joy: this is how God’s mercy is when He comes to comfort. We try to back away: “It’s too much, Lord!” We often “hire out” small consolations, which are useless. They may help, but they aren’t useful. What is useful to us is only what comes from the Lord, with his forgiveness and our humility. When the heart humbles itself, that comfort comes, and this joy and peace can carry us forth.” The Gospel reading is so dear to Pope Francis that his pectoral cross illustrates the Good Shepherd. Comforting those lost to the Church has been one of the hallmarks of his papacy. Again and again, he tells us that we must go beyond the walls of the Church to go out into the world where people are lost in their despair and distrust. We need to meet people where they are and bring them the message of Jesus and the joy of the Gospel without insisting that they have to be perfect before they can be loved.