God makes use of mercies and chastisements as tests of character, not for His instruction, for he knoweth the very secrets of the heart, but for ours, for that of others around us, and of the church at large. When Christ gave Peter and his fellow-fishers a very great multitude of fishes, so that their net brake, it brought out Peter's faith and humility, for such was the purport of his prayer when he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord. When great mercies and blessings come to us, either unexpectedly, or as a return of our own honest endeavours, and we are not lifted up, nor made forgetful of God by them, but keep humble and empty of self, and are more truly earnest to serve and please Christ, they prove the reality of grace in our hearts, and are means of advancing us in a Christian life, and in preparation for Heaven. Perhaps this is a meaning included by Saint James, when he says, let the brother of low degree glory in his exaltation. When Christ deprived the Gergesenes of their herd of two thousand swine, he brought out a sad proof of their ignorance and worldly-mindedness; the whole multitude of them besought him to depart from them. They asked to get rid of Christ. Sad resolve! awful conclusion of His work among them! What can be more awful, or sadder to observe, than when one well-to-do, becoming impoverished, no uncommon thing in this land of business and commerce, gives up a profession of religion, whether much or little, becomes loose in conduct, takes perhaps to drinking, close as to all kindness for others in distress, and wholly absorbed, mind and heart, in the recovery of lost wealth. But if taking his losses properly to heart, as a check from his loving Saviour to worldliness of heart and conduct, he is humble, patient in faith and hope, diligent in his business, and truly Christian in his life and temper, how beautiful is it, how instructive, how explanatory of Saint James' words, let the rich glory in his being low, for as a flower of the grass shall he pass away.
- text taken from Daily Bread - Bring a Few Morning Meditations for the Use of Catholic Christians by Father Richard Waldo Sibthorp