Heart to Heart

JMJDFC

Program 4

Welcome to our broadcast of Heart to Heart. It truly is a pleasure to be speaking with you again. In the studio with me is Father Michael Novacki, OP. We will be available to answer your calls during this program. You may dial: area code 609- .

Father Mike, would you please read a passage for us from today's Gospel according to Saint Luke: "The tax collectors and sinners were all gathered around to hear Jesus, at which the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.' Then He addressed this parable to them: 'Who among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wasteland and follow the lost one until he finds it? And when he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders in Jubilation. Once arrived home, he invites friends and neighbors in and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, there will likewise be more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.

"What woman, if she has ten silver pieces and loses one, does not light a lamp and sweep the house in a diligent search until she has retrieved what she lost? And when she finds it, she calls in her friends and neighbors to say, 'Rejoice with me! I have found the silver piece I lost.' I tell you, there will be the same kind of joy before the angels of God over one repentant sinner."

Thank you Father for reading today's Gospel for us.

Each time we hear this Gospel, we should be filled with extreme joy. To think that our repentance always brings such happiness to heaven and to all the angels and saints, should also give us hope. There is a sense in this reading that God will forgive us no matter what our fault or failing. All we need to do, is to be repentant. This means we need to turn back to our Loving Lord with our whole heart and soul; and express our sorrow from deep within our being.

These Scriptures though, take us far beyond our own repentance. They tell us that God Himself seeks for us, as a shepherd, as a woman who loses a coin. The Almighty God, in all His Greatness, takes the time to search for us when we stray from Him. No matter how bad our sin seems to us, our Father overlooks it and calls us lovingly to Himself.

Doesn't it bother you when you hear people put themselves down. It really does bother me. It's what they call a "poor self-image?" Even hearing a negative comment made about another person is a real shame. God loves each one of us so much that He goes out of His way, so to speak, to find us where we are, and bring us back home. Even if we were the only person on the face of the earth, He still would suffer and die, just for us.

His will for us, is that we should be happy with Him forever in paradise. It's not just our happiness He seeks, but the happiness of all those around us as well. He wants what is best for us, our good, our happiness, our love. The phrase "hound of heaven" comes to mind here. No matter how far away we wander in this life, He is always seeking us. Calling after us wherever we may go. He is relentless in His pursuit of our soul.

As true as all this is, He will not force us against our will to love and serve Him. He is the giver of our free will and He respects it totally. However, if we make the slightest effort to move toward Him, if we say a single word in His direction, He will snatch us up to His Heart and hide us within Himself.

St. Dominic always felt such a deep longing to serve his Master. He thought he would shed his blood for his Lord. Although the Lord did not require St. Dominic's martyrdom, God still rewarded him as if he did indeed shed his blood. It was the depth of the love St. Dominic felt for the Lord that brought about such a wonderful blessing.

God offers the same to us; remember He told us that, "Love covers a multitude of sin." With St. Mary Magdalene, our Lord states that her many sins are forgiven her because of her great love. Jesus wishes to forgive us our many sins as well. Just approach the fount of His mercy and tell Him how sorry you are: He will do the rest. Love and Trust will suffice.

We are available to answer your calls during this program. You may dial: area code 609- .

If anyone is interested in following in the footsteps of Dominic, give us a call and we'll share the information with you. Last week, we had three members of the St. Martin de Porres Young Dominican's Chapter share with us about their vocation. There are about thirty young people, between the ages of nine and seventeen who have chosen to spend more time learning about God, the bible, the Rosary and the saints. These folks come together about two hours each week to grow in these areas. They also shared with us about their upcoming reception into the Dominican Family. If you would like to join us on January 26, 1996, for this special occasion, just call or write to us and we'll relay all the details. If you need a ride, we may be able to arrange one for you.

There is a fund raising effort that I would like to share with you. We're trying to provide bibles and Dominican pins for each of the members of the Young Dominican Chapter, as well as keep this program on the air. We have a beautiful picture of the Blessed Mother and Pope John Paul II in a loving embrace. This picture is beautifully framed and sells for $45.00 at the St. Jude Shop. Anyone who has or will send in a donation, either for the program, bibles or pins, will have their name entered into a drawing for this picture. It will be awarded at the reception following the January 26^th ceremony.

To make a donation, ask a question or bring up a subject that you would like discussed on this program, write to us at: Heart to Heart, P. O. Box 11431, Philadelphia, PA 19111.

This message is for Angela: There is a chapter in Camden with a zip code of 08103. I feel this may be the closest one to your location. It is the Perpetual Rosary Monastery, 1500 Haddon Avenue. Camden, NJ. If this is not convenient or if you would like more information, you may contact me again. Please spell your last name or leave a phone number where I can reach you. As for your comment about making the second best choice and mortal sin, there really is no connection. A person in the state of grace can make a poor decision. God only expects us to do our best, and if we fall a bit short of His ideal, He will make up the difference. Those who choose a non-denominational church choose to give up the Sacraments that supply us the graces we need so desperately.

It is with a heavy heart that we pray for a safe journey for Archbishop Adams who departs from us tonight. He will spend a week in Rome with our Holy Father before going to Bangladesh to begin his new assignment. He will be sorely missed by those he leaves behind.

Mrs Hockel, has related to us that our prayers, offered for her husband, have been fruitful. The doctor did indeed give him a favorable report for the last round of tests. She now requests that we continue our prayers for her husbands return to full health.

Please keep a young woman who is right now fighting an alcohol addiction and is about three months pregnant in your prayers. Pray for the woman herself to have the courage she needs to win the fight. Pray also, for her unborn child, that God will protect this dear one's physical development.

A request comes to us from a Dominican Father in Washington, DC to pray for Kay, a friend of his who has a benign, yet very painful tumor on her spine. May God grant her relief according to His will and may she have the grace to offer her suffering to the Father in union with Jesus' offering on the Cross.

God Willing, we'll be back with you again next week at this same time. Remember that God's power is in your hands when you pray the Rosary. May God bless you and protect you.

Father Michael, will you please grant our listeners a blessing?

May the blessing of Almighty God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit fill your hearts with peace, joy and happiness now and forever. In the Name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.