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BUMC Mini-Blast November 3, 2026
JesusTime Devotion
by Joey Capuano

"Stay Awake!"

by Joey Capuano

Scripture: Matthew 25: 1-13

The wise and foolish bridesmades

25 Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten young women took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him. 7 Then all those young women got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. 9 But the wise replied, No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. 11 Later the other young women came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us. 12 But he replied, Truly I tell you, I do not know you. 13 Keep awake, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour

Traditional African - American Spiritual, "Keep Your Lamps"

Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,

keep your lamps trimmed and burning,

the day is drawing nigh.

(African American Spiritual, public domain)

This Reading is, let's face it, rather abrupt and presents the "foolish" in a very negative light. But, when I read the Discipleship Ministries article (https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/it-will-be-like-this/week-1-twenty-fourth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a), saw the traditional African - American Spiritual that was quoted in the article, "Keep Your Lamps," and read Matthew 25: 13, it made me think about what we need to do as a family in Christ today. We need to always be prepared for the Coming of Jesus.

How can we be prepared? We can follow the greatest Commandment that Jesus taught: We need to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves. (Jesus is quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5, and He is teaching us here in Mark 12: 28 - 31) This means that we need to show this Love towards everyone we meet. This means the refugee; the person who is seen as an outcast; the Republican/Democrat/Independent/Apolitical; all cultures, ethnicities, and races; people of any orientation; and people of any identity. It means everyone! The modern saying that resonates with me about this is, "Y'all means all!"

Especially as we are approaching Election Day in a time period where there is a lot of division and hatred, let's all remember to keep our lamps burning, and to bring enough oil! This oil can come in the form of giving support to each other, asking others for help, and most importantly, PRAYING! God will help us with this, sometimes in ways that we aren't expecting, but He always helps!

God bless us, everyone,
Joey