In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.
"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?"
"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."
"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; "We have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil.
When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger - while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew: It is best to be always prepared.
In our Gospel (Luke 21:25-36), Jesus said, “Be vigilant at all times…” It means that we have to make ourselves fit every day and be ready to face whatever comes our way. Part of being vigilant, or being fit, we have to see to it that we always find time to do what is essential and necessary in our state of life. This does not mean that we have to work and work only. Rather, we can spend some of our times relaxing or refreshing somewhere somehow but even then it must not lead us to be negligent of what is essential and necessary i.e., to be always fit to face whatever comes our way. It is unwise for one to skip taking care of himself/herself because he/she is on vacation. It is not also good to forget brushing one’s teeth or taking a bath because he/she is too busy with his/her works. Whatever our situation is and in whatever condition we can find ourselves, our Gospel reminds us to stay fit –be vigilant –be prepared for whatever comes along. And the best way to be fit –to be vigilant –is to spend more times in prayers. Amen.
