• • CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly
• • Faith and the Common Good
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Overview: Responding to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Pope Francis called for a day of fasting and prayer on Ash Wednesday (March 2) that, united under the mantle of Our Lady the Queen of Peace, we implore God to "preserve the world from the folly of war." 

Both the House and Senate were in recess this week.

Economy: In the week ending February 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial [unemployment insurance weekly] claims was 232,000, a decrease of 17,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 248,000 to 249,000. 

Funding the government: Last Friday, President Biden signed into law a new stopgap funding measure set to expire March 11, 2022. Lawmakers continue negotiations on the omnibus appropriations bill to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year.

Public charge: The Department of Homeland Security will publish a proposed rule to amend the federal "public charge" provisions. Public charge refers to one of the factors involved in admitting an individual into the U.S. or allowing an immigrant to adjust his or her status to a lawful permanent resident (i.e. green card). The individual is vetted to determine if he or she might become primarily dependent on government assistance and, therefore, become a "public charge." Under the Trump administration, a person could be deemed a public charge if he or she received benefits such as food assistance and health care, which deterred many people from seeking this aid. The proposed rule would not include these benefits in a determination of a public charge status. Another important feature of the proposed rule is that it would be codified into law and not subject to change with presidential administrations. Once the proposed rule is published, individuals and organizations have 60 days to comment.

Charitable Giving and Support

Catholic Charities USA joined a coalition of 60 nonprofit partners in a letter to President Biden and Congressional leadership urging support for nonprofits in their continued service to serve communities during the coronavirus pandemic. The letter includes support for financial incentives to increase charitable giving, reinstatement of the Employee Retention Tax credit and other assistance to meet upcoming needs. 

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Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is March 2 this year, meaning next week. Lent has many beautiful traditions to help us deepen our relationship with God and neighbor. For example, many people take a fresh look at their prayer life, and they either try something new or refresh something old. Here's a method we might try that helps us put on the mind of Christ and put our faith into action (See Phil 2:1-11):

The method consists of three steps:  read, reflect, and respond.  One begins by slowly and deliberately reading a particular gospel passage (perhaps the one for the Mass of the day), inserting oneself into the scene and observing the place, the people, where Jesus is in relation to others and to oneself, with whom Jesus is speaking, and what he is saying.  If a word or an action sparks a thought or an image, then reflect on what God might be placing on one's heart at that moment.  Is it a feeling of gratitude to God, a desire to confess and receive forgiveness for a sin, or a call to action to get involved in some service or advocacy?  The proper response is to do what our prayer has prompted.

Of course, prayer sometimes yields a sense of desolation.  If so, we may be tempted to think that nothing has happened.  This is false.  Many saints speak of aridity when praying, but they don't stop praying. They reflect on what it might mean. Is God exercising our desire for him? Is he testing our perseverance?  No matter what we feel, we know from Scripture that God hears us (1 Jn 5:15) and is attentive to our prayer (1 Pt 3:12).  How God responds to us, and when, is, of course, up to him.  

But is there no way to gauge the effects of prayer?  Scripture offers the standard:  Is our love of God manifesting itself in love of our neighbors? After we have honored our duties and responsibilities at home, do we help to take care of those who are needy and vulnerable? Are our relationships filled with the fruit of forgiveness, justice, compassion, understanding, forbearance, patience, humility, meekness, and kindness?  Like natural fruit, the fruit of prayer usually comes after the seed has been planted and cultivated for some time.

Keeping Jesus and his words and actions on our minds and discerning how we might respond in a concrete way helps to extend our prayer into the mix of our daily lives. This Lent let us take another step toward Jesus, to encounter our Lord who stretched out his arms on the cross to save us, and who still waits for us with open arms.

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Q. What event comes before Easter but is not part of Lent, and what are the three parts that make up the one event?

Please send your answers to [email protected]. 

Last week's question and answer:

Q. Which pope had the shortest reign?
A. Congrats to Rita Meyer for being first to send in the right answer: The shortest reign of a pope was for Urban VII, who lived only 13 days after his election in 1590. The longest, aside from St. Peter, was Blessed Pius IX, who died in 1878, after serving for more than 31 years.

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