Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/258

 for in  these  affairs  no  man  ought  to  place  confidence  in his  own  abilities  or  exertions,  but  he  ought  to  ground all his  hopes  of  success  on  the  assistance  of  heaven. " Neither  he  that  planteth  is  anything,  nor  he  that watereth,  but  God  who  giveth  the  increase." (1 Cor.  iii. 7.)  During  the  night  of  sin,  no  action,  meritorious  of eternal  Lie,  can  be  performed;  thus  every  action,  however virtuous  otherwise,  unless  done  in  a  state  of  grace, is lost. Detest sin,  then,  above  every  other  evil.

III. " But  when  the  morning  was  come,  Jesus  stood  on the  shore,  yet  the  disciples  knew  not  that  it  was  Jesus." (John xxi.  4.)  Thus  Christ  is  frequently  at  hand  to  relieve our  necessities,  when  we  think  the  least  of  it. He asks them  if  they  have  any  food,  although  He  knew  that they had  none,  because  He  wishes  us  to  acknowledge  our wants before  He  relieves  them. He then  commands them: "Cast  the  net  on  the  right  side  of  the  ship,  and ye  shall  find.  They  cast,  therefore,  and  now  they  were not  able  to  draw  it  for  the  multitude  of  fishes." Learn hence how  valuable  is  the  virtue  of  obedience  to  the  will of God. "An obedient  man  shall  speak  of  victory." (Prov. xxi.  28.)

I. St.  John,  knowing  from  the  miraculous  draught  of fishes  that  the  person  must  be  Christ,  without  hesitation pronounced, "  It  is  the  Lord." (John xxi.  7.)  Peter  immediately cast  himself  into  the  sea,  in  order  to  approach his Master. In St.  John  is  figured  the  contemplative life, which  is  quick-sighted  in  discovering  our  Lord,  and immediately points  Him  out  to  others. St. Peter  represents  the  fervor  of  active  life,  which  is  always  ardent  and