Simplicity

Zacchaeus, whose name means “pure” or “innocent” was a dishonest man whose curiosity led him to Jesus Christ and salvation. As a chief tax collector for the vicinity of Jericho, he was an employee of the Roman Empire. Zacchaeus was a wealthy man, so he likely extorted a great deal from the people. Jesus was passing through Jericho one day, but Zacchaeus could not see Jesus over the crowd so Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to get a better view. Jesus, seeing him, told Zacchaeus to come down because he would stay at his house. Some in the crowd grumbled about Jesus socializing with a sinner. When Jesus' call to him, Zacchaeus promised to give half his money to the poor and repay fourfold anyone he had cheated. Jesus told Zacchaeus he would see salvation because Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

Brother Lawrence, born Nicholas Herman in France, fought as a young soldier in the 30 Years War in which he sustained a near fatal injury to his sciatic nerve. The injury left him quite crippled and in chronic pain for the rest of his life. He was educated at home and by his parish priest whose first name was Lawrence. At mid-life he entered a newly established monastery in Paris where he became the cook for the community which grew to over one hundred members. After 15 years, his duties were shifted to the sandal repair shop but, even then, he often returned to the busy kitchen to help out. Brother Lawrence, discovered, then followed, a pure and uncomplicated way to walk continually in God's presence. After his death, a few of his letters were collected and published 'The Practice of the Presence of God'. Brother Lawrence simply and beautifully explains how to continually walk with God - not from the head but from the heart.

Therese of Lisieux was born at Alencon, Normandy. She underwent a religious conversion and thereafter dedicated herself to monastic life. Entering the Carmelite convent at Lisieux at fifteen, she was soon appointed assistant novice mistress. One year before her death from tuberculosis at age 24, she volunteered to join the Carmelite missionaries in China. Her devotional book, The Little Way, was widely acclaimed, as was her autobiography The Story of a Soul. Miracles of healing and prophecy soon were attributed to her name, and an account of these was appended in 1907 to the autobiography. Churches and shrines dedicated to her memory often bear the title "Little Flower", reflecting the subtitle of her autobiography.