felon

103. But how are we to make these practical acts of humility before God? I will give you some examples. You can imagine yourself in the presence of God now as a convicted felon who humbles himself and implores mercy for the forgiveness of his sins: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy great mercy"; [Ps. l, 1] now as a miserable needy beggar who humbles himself and asks alms to help him in his necessity: "Give us this day our daily bread"; now as the sick man near the Pool of Bethsaida, who humbled himself before the Saviour to be healed of his incurable disease: "Sir, I have no man . . ."; [John v, 7] now as that blind man who humbled himself that his darkness might be illuminated: "Lord, that I may see"; now as the Canaanite woman who humbled herself and exclaimed: "Have mercy on me, O Lord, help me," [Matt. xv, 22, 25] and who was not ashamed to liken herself to the dogs who are unworthy to eat their master's bread, but are content to eat the crumbs that fall from his table. Humility of heart is ingenuous, and in the same manner as our heart loves without needing to be taught to love, it humbles itself without needing to be taught humility.