Hey there,
Whenever discussion turns to the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan’s name comes up.
But did you know he didn’t make his high school Varsity basketball team the first time he tried out? It’s true. He ran home, locked himself in his room, and cried … and then he went to work.
Talking about that JV year, Jordan said, “Whenever I was working out and got tired and figured I ought to stop, I’d close my eyes and see that list in the locker room without my name on it.”
When that coach put Michael Jordan on the JV team, he did him a favor. He didn’t have the skills for Varsity yet. Michael learned that it’s not enough to show up. You can’t just do the bare minimum.
He was motivated to work harder and longer, with one goal on his mind.
The next year Michael Jordan made Varsity, and the rest as they say, is history.
Michael Jordan’s story is a lesson for all of us. As we live our life with the goal of getting to heaven, we should recognize that just doing the bare minimum may not cut it.
One opportunity we have to up our game is with fasting. It’s required during Lent, but did you know that on Fridays throughout the year we’re supposed to either abstain from meat or do some other form of penance or charity? Hopefully this is not news to you as it was to me!
This week’s issue of Genuflect dishes on fasting, what it is, what it’s not, how and why to do it, some tips to help us with fasting, and a prayer we can say when beginning a fast.
With extra work, including fasting throughout the year, we’ll have a much better shot to join the Saints on the Varsity team.
Keep Believing-
Katy Barrilleaux
Founding Editor, Genuflect
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genuflect: resources
Spiritual Fasting
Mary Fairchild lays out all the basics of fasting, from what it is to what it is not. Here’s what you need to know.
What the Bible Says About Spiritual Fasting | Learn Religions
7 Things About Fasting
This article was written during Lent, but it’s applicable for fasting anytime of the year. It looks at 7 things that you didn’t know about fasting, including the fact that we’re actually supposed to fast year round.
7 Things You Never Knew About Fasting | America Magazine
4 Reasons to Fast
Father Mike Schmitz shares 4 reasons to fast. It’s short and sweet, and presented in a great infographic.
Fr. Mike Schmitz’ 4 Reasons For Fasting, in One Great Infographic | ChurchPOP
Fasting Outside of Lent
Fasting outside of Lent has all but disappeared in the past 50 years. Jesus fasted and so should we. Here John Kubasak offers practical tips for fasting.
Why Catholics Should Fast Outside of Lent And How to do it? | Cora Evans
Fasting 101
You may be overwhelmed at the thought of fasting. The good news is, fasting doesn’t have to be complicated. Andy Buku provides some examples on how to get started with fasting.
Catholic Fasting 101 | Carry Your Cross
3 Ways to Fast
Fasting is a powerful spiritual tool. According to Kennedy Hall, there are 3 main ways to fast from food. He goes through each of them and provides some tips along the way.
How to Fast | The Meaning of Catholic
9 Tips For Fasting
Though this article addresses fasting during Lent, it makes a great case for why you should fast year round. And more importantly, it offers up 9 tips for making the most of your fasting.
9 Surprising Tips For Fasting Catholics | Catholic World Mission
What I Learned From Fasting
If you’re still on the fence about fasting, check out this article from Fionn Shiner. He shares the key takeaways he learned from his first fast.
Here’s What I Learned from Fasting | Catholic Stand
Fasting For Justice
Catholics have practiced fasting to address social justices going back many years. Fasting is mentioned more than 70 times in Scripture, in both the Old Testament and New Testament. Dennis Sadowski explains.
Fasting For Justice an Invitation to Address Many Types of Social Sin | Crux Now
Prayer Before Fasting
All things are better with prayer. So before you begin that next fast, try saying this prayer.
Catholic Prayer Before Fasting From Food | Aleteia
genuflect: prayer
Pray The Novena to The Archangels
Next week on September 29th, we will celebrate the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels. So now’s the time to begin praying the Novena to the Archangels to be finished by then. Or you can pray it any time to tap into the power of these powerful angels. You’ll find the Novena to the Archangels here.
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Digital Inspiration
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