Simplicity is not a common virtue, but it is an attractive lifestyle. The sage Mahatma Gandhi says, "Live simply, so that others may simply live." When Jesus called the twelve apostles, He instructed them to adopt a simple lifestyle and reject the worldly ambition of money and possessions. “He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics” (Luke 9:3). In other words, he was saying to his apostles, “If your ambition is to enjoy the world, you cannot serve God properly or preach the message effectively. Don’t get it wrong! Material wealth is helpful and not entirely bad in itself, but it has enormous power to distract; Jesus teaches us the power of modesty, simplicity, and the spiritual virtue of detachment from material wealth. How possible is it to be an effective preacher of the word and own so much personal property or run chains of business enterprises and conglomerates? As Jesus sent his apostles, so he is sending us to proclaim him in word and deed. An anonymous writer reminds each of us: “You are writing a Gospel; A chapter each day; by the deeds that you do; and the words that you say; men read what you write; if it’s false or it’s true; Now what is the Gospel about you?” Luke 9:1-6; Wednesday, 25th Week