Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/329

 profession of  life,  but  no  one  was  ever  a  saint  or  ever will be,  who  was  not  addicted  to  prayer,  retirement,  and mortification.

I. Moved  by  the  sanctity  of  the  Baptist,  a  great  number of  Jews  resorted  to  him,  so  that  not  only  the  common people, but  also  the  chief  magistrates,  began  to  doubt whether or  not  he  were  the  Christ. " Therefore  the  Jews sent  from  Jerusalem  priests  and  levites  to  him  to  ask him,  Who  art  thou?" (John i.  19.)  Reflect  what  influence innocence  of  life  possesses  over  the  minds  of  men, and how  truly  St.  Bernard  remarks,  that  "  the  voice  of works  is  louder  than  that  of  words."

II. Upon this  occasion  St.  John  exercised  many  acts of humility. He was  held  in  such  esteem  by  the  Jews as to  be  taken  for  the  Messias,  but  he  did  not  therefore pride himself  upon  his  reputation,  as  worldly  people  are accustomed to  do  in  similar  circumstances. " He  confessed and  did  not  deny  and  he  confessed,  I  am  not  the Christ." The first  degree  of  humility  consists  in  disowning what  does  not  belong  to  a  person,  and  of  bestowing it where  it  is  due. Examine whether  you  do  not  often act otherwise  by  raising  yourself  above  your  proper  level, and by  concealing  what  you  are  in  reality.

III. The Jews  afterwards  inquired  whether  he  were not Elias  or  some  one  of  the  prophets,  and  he  answered, No. He  might  have  suffered  himself  to  be  called  Elias in spirit,  and  a  prophet,  and  more  than  a  prophet  in  fact, as he  was  styled  by  the  angel,  and  by  Christ  Himself. But he  who  is  truly  humble  not  only  refuses  the  praise to which  he  is  not  entitled,  but,  as  far  as  truth  will  per-