“Comfort, give comfort to my people”. These words come as a gentle assurance to a weary people longing for deliverance. God’s message is one of tenderness: he is not distant or indifferent but deeply compassionate. He promises to lift up the valleys and to make the mountains low, clearing a straight path for his glory to be revealed. The image of God as a shepherd carrying his lambs close to his heart captures the essence of his love and care for each of us. In the Gospel reading, the Lord Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep, revealing the same heart of the Father. God’s concern is not for the many who are safe but for the one who has wandered away. He seeks, finds, and rejoices over that one lost soul. Through this parable, we see the depth of God’s mercy: no one is beyond his reach, and no one is forgotten. God’s comfort and compassion are personal and profound. He comes to save, to restore, and to take us home to his heart.

Abba Father, lead me back when I stray from you. Amen.