Fr. Schultz was just notified of the death of Fr. Francis Malley at the age of 78 on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Fr. Malley was ordained on June 2, 2001 as a priest for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. His initial assignment after ordination was as Parochial Vicar (“Assistant Pastor”) here at Our Lady of Fatima Parish. He later served as Pastor at San Miguel Parish in Ribera, and canonical Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Villanueva. He also served as Pastor at San Francisco de Asís Parish in Ranchos de Taos, and St. Joseph Parish in Cerrillos. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Fr. Francis Malley. May he rest in peace.
In today’s Gospel (Matthew 22:34-40), we heard Jesus declare that “the whole law and the prophets” depend on two great commands from the Lord. Everything concerning our fidelity to God hinges on our ability to love God above all else and to love our neighbor as ourselves. When Jesus was tested by one of the Pharisees, Jesus simply took the 613 commandments found in the Torah (Law) and narrowed them down to these two. The instruction to love God comes from Deuteronomy 6:5, and the instruction to love our neighbor from Leviticus 19:18. Some have described love of God as being the “vertical dimension” of love, and love of neighbor as being the “horizontal dimension.” By combining love of God and love of neighbor into a single commandment, Jesus is putting them on equal footing and making clear that love of God and love of neighbor are two sides of the same coin. They are dependent upon one another and enhance one another.
Parishioners are encouraged to submit nominations for the five positions on the Council that will become available in the new year. If you would like to serve on the Parish Pastoral Council or know of someone you would like to nominate, please submit your nomination to the Parish Office or to a current member of the Parish Council.
In today’s Gospel (Matthew 22:15-21), Jesus is asked: “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” Matthew makes it clear that those who are asking the question are interested in one thing only – how they might entrap Jesus in speech and discredit him in the eyes of his followers. If Jesus answered “Yes,” he might forfeit his popularity with the crowds, who resented having to pay the tax and saw it as cooperation with the Roman oppressors who occupied their country. If he answered “No,” he would be denounced to the authorities as a revolutionary who was inciting the people to break the law. It was the classic “no-win” situation. Jesus did not fall for their trap. He did not respond with either of the answers that his questioners were looking for. Jesus replied: “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
From September 23rd through November 1st , you are invited to join other Christians who will be participating in “40 Days for Life.” This will be 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion. As part of our participation in “40 Days for Life,” parishioners are encouraged to engage in prayer, fasting and almsgiving, the three traditional means of penance. Parishioners from Our Lady of Fatima have specifically been asked to be present outside of Planned Parenthood on Tuesday, October 20th.
The raffle drawing to support Our Lady of Fatima School will be held on October 30, 2020. Students will not be selling tickets after Mass, but you can still buy raffle tickets at the parish office until Thursday, October 23, 2020.
Three times in our Scripture Readings today we are told how God will provide for us. In the First Reading (Isaiah 25:6-10a) Isaiah says “On this mountain the Lord of Hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines… he will destroy death forever.” Here, God is reminding the Israelites that he will be faithful to his covenant with them and provide for them. In our Second Reading from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Philippians (Philippians 4:12-14; 19-20), Paul tells the community, “God will supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” At this point in human history, what Isaiah had prophesied had come to pass: through Jesus, death had been overcome and the Lord had opened the doors to eternal life. So Saint Paul is reminding the Philippians that they can be content with whatever circumstances come their way, because the banquet has begun. For all who have responded to the invitation to faith by their Baptism, the feast of salvation is plentiful.
In today’s Second Reading (Philippians 4:6-9), Saint Paul encourages the Philippians to “have no anxiety at all.” Easier said than done, right! It is hard for us not to be anxious at times-especially in these times. We become anxious about people – about our children, our spouse, our aging parents. We also become anxious about work, mortgages, car payments, medical issues. We are most certainly anxious about the COVID-19 pandemic and all the changes it has brought to our lives. We are anxious about our nation torn apart by politics and social injustice. When we become anxious, we disturb the quiet within.