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SHADE // Brother Isaiah (updated 2 August 2020)

From the CFR facebook page: "SHADE" is a new acoustic series featuring the music of Brother Isaiah, CFR. Brother Isaiah offers si...

Wednesday 29 December 2010

Simplicity is God's way

"God's sign is simplicity. God's sign is the baby. God's sign is that he makes himself small for us. This is how he reigns. He does not come with power and outward splendor. He comes as a baby – defenseless and in need of our help. He does not want to overwhelm us with his strength. He takes away our fear of his greatness. He asks for our love: so he makes himself a child. He wants nothing other from us than our love, through which we spontaneously learn to enter into his feelings, his thoughts and his will – we learn to live with him and to practice with him that humility of renunciation that belongs to the very essence of love."
(Benedict XVI, Homily 24 December 2006)

Thursday 23 December 2010

Fasting from cricket

I'd like to share some insight on the practice of fasting today. This insight comes from a rather odd source, I found it in my December 2010 issue of the South African version of Sports Illustrated.It contains an interview with one of the best batsmen in the world - South African Hashim Amla. Hashim is a devout Muslim who refuses to wear the team sponsors logo as it is an alcoholic beverage, very brave indeed. On the topic of fasting he has the following remarks:
"Fasting? I love it! Absolutely. Absolutely. I love it. What is there not to love about it? The physical discomfort? You get that in everything. You run 5km to gain fitness. It might hurt, but you know there's benefit in it. I think I've gained more out of fasting when we're playing or training than from the rest of the year. Purely from the mental side. It really is tough... it gives me a much better understanding of what I'm capable of... and what my body's capable of."
Very inspiring.
Catholic inspirational author Matthew Kelly (in his book Rediscovering Catholicism) has these words at the end of the chapter on fasting in the Catholic tradition:
"Our bodies are vehicles that God has given our souls to experience life in the material realm. Until you get a grip on your body, you will never get a grip on any area of your life."
So next time you have the opportunity to fast grab it with both hands and tame that demanding body of yours!

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