Well, Mary is the one who first loves that little lamb. The shepherd is the one who truly loves us. This is our story of faith. We are so deeply loved and cared for by our shepherd. Now the whole notion of us being sheep really is rather odd.
Sheep are very much followers.
And yet at the heart of who we are we are also the people who do need care, we need each other, and we need the one who will be with us no matter what. We do need that shepherd. Now Jesus upholds himself as the good shepherd. The one who really will take care of the flock. And Jesus says, I am the good shepherd, not the hired hand.