Prayer
This prayer speaks to the action side of contemplation, and explains how spiritual serenity should never be tranquilizing. God calls us not only to peace, but also to dissatisfaction, and at times, anger:
Lord, make me a channel of disturbance.
Where there is apathy, let me provoke;
Where there is compliance, let me bring questioning;
Where there is silence, may I be a voice.
Where there is too much comfort and too little action, grant disruption;
Where there are doors closed and hearts locked, Grant the willingness to listen.
When laws dictate and pain is overlooked…
When tradition speaks louder than need…
Grant that I may seek rather to do justice than to talk about it;
Disturb us, O Lord. To be with, as well as for, the alienated;
To love the unlovable as well as the lovely;
Lord, make me a channel of disturbance.
Author/Source Unknown
Advocacy and Action
Both NETWORK and Catholic Charities USA are asking us to contact our members of Congress today or tomorrow and ask them to protect SNAP and Medicaid during the budget reconciliation process happening NOW. Details can be found here. Attacking SNAP and Medicaid is a direct attack on people living in poverty.
Education and Information
Nuns Against Gun Violence will host their second in a series of webinars focused on state-level gun violence prevention efforts. Join them for Making Connections & Building Hope. This month they we will feature gun violence prevention efforts in Ohio on May 21st from 7-8:30 pm ET. Register here.
There have been so many Executive Orders in the first 100 days of the current administration that it is difficult to know what end is up. NETWORK has an Executive Order tracker! And the USCCB Dept of Migration has a document that tracks the Immigration actions taken in the first 100 days.
Democracy Watch
I was hoping to only need this section of the Weekly Update during the election cycle, but sadly I think it will be needed for a while. The uncertainty around the globe means our opposition must be often and loud. We can support candidates that believe in the system of checks and balances in our government. We can support independent journalism. We can be “a gnat in the ear of our politicians.” What have your daily calls been about this past week?
This week's Save the Democracy Opportunity:
The list of issues for advocacy is long. I’m not going to add another. But please, keep up the calls to your elected officials on all of the issues that are important to you. Keep the pressure on our Congress people.
Useful Links: