From the Pastor's Desk | September 21, 2025

Groundbreaking

Everyone is invited to join us for Mass with Bishop Boyea on Thursday, September 25 at 8:20 am as we commemorate the ceremonial groundbreaking of our new school classrooms!  Immediately following Mass, we will move to the construction site for a short presentation, groundbreaking, and cookies!
This is an exciting milestone in the life of St. Martha Parish and School as we position ourselves all the more to continue the work of Christ and His mission for the local Church!  

Fall Fundraiser

Sponsorship opportunities are now open for our annual fall fundraiser to be held the evening of November 8.  Thank you so much for your generous support of the parish and school!  Without your support we would not be able to accomplish Christ’s mission.  So, I encourage you to prayerfully pray about sponsoring the event and being generous in your support to the parish and school.  You are each a blessing and I remain most grateful!  

​You can become a sponsor online here or ​email fundraiser@st-martha.org 

Gospel Reflection

Today, we’re confronted with one of Jesus’ most puzzling and controversial parables, that of the Dishonest Steward. Why is it so controversial? Because it seems as though Jesus praises a man who is openly dishonest.

In the story, a rich man discovers that his steward - essentially his business manager - has been mismanaging his property. The steward is called in, confronted, and told to prepare a final accounting because he’s about to be dismissed. His position is gone. His options are few.

And here we find the first lesson: the steward recognizes the crisis he’s in. He sees the reality of his situation clearly. He’s out of work. He’s too proud to beg. He’s too weak to dig. That moment of clarity is important. Now ask yourself: Do we recognize when we are in a spiritual crisis? Do we see the ways we misuse what God has entrusted to us? Are we honest about our limitations, weaknesses, even our sin?

The steward not only recognizes his crisis - he acts. He summons his master’s debtors and reduces their debts, effectively currying their favor so that they might receive him once he’s out of a job. And then comes the twist: the master commends the steward. Not for his dishonesty, but for his shrewdness and his ability to act decisively in a crisis.

Jesus isn’t holding this man up as a moral example. He’s not endorsing dishonesty. Instead, he’s highlighting the steward’s urgency and resourcefulness. And here’s the point: “The children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.” In other words, people are often more decisive and creative when handling money or worldly affairs than when facing matters of eternal consequence. The criticism here isn’t toward the steward but rather toward us! 

So Jesus turns the parable inside out and makes the steward’s prudence a model - not for dishonesty, but for urgency in the spiritual life. He goes on to say, “Make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” (Luke 16:9). That’s a difficult verse to understand for many. But Jesus is not praising “dishonest wealth.” He’s reminding us that all wealth is fleeting and urging us to use it for something eternal. That is, to give generously; to use worldly resources to care for others, to serve the poor, to invest in the Kingdom of God because that is what lasts.

As we pray today, let us ask ourselves: Do we recognize our own spiritual crisis? What sinful patterns, habits, or attitudes do we need to acknowledge? And most importantly, what are we doing about it? Like the steward, we must act. We must recognize the urgency of our spiritual condition and respond with decisive faith, with repentance, with generosity, and with purpose.  In other words, we must work to be spiritually fit.  

Let’s pray today for clear eyes to see our spiritual reality, and for the courage to act wisely, urgently, and faithfully.

Know of my prayers for you all! 
Fr. Ryan