By John Roy
Mississippi public schools did not fully integrate until 1970.
This explains why in the summer of 1964 Civil Rights organizations were providing summer school in African-American only schools.
The African American schools were still administrated by the white public school system of the state, and they would not allow the schools to be open in the summer. So one of these summer schools was located in the Mt. Zion Methodist Church. Then the church was burned to the ground.
After the church burning, James Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman were sent to Mississippi by the civil rights organization to investigate.
On June 21, 1964, James Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman were tortured and murdered by the KKK with help from the deputy sheriff near Philadelphia in Neshoba County, Mississippi.
On August 4, 1964 the bodies of these three young men were found buried in an earthen dam. 60 years ago ---three people trying to help other people receive a better education were killed, killed for caring.
Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Luke 10:25-37
God, your son told us stories about seeing people beaten on the side of the road. Your son told us to lend a hand. Jesus called us to open our eyes and see and then do. To lead with compassion. Lord, there will always be a price for having an open heart and willing hands, may we always be willing to pay it. To pay it in Jesus name, because Jesus would want people to overcome their circumstances and Jesus would want us to offer compassion.
When we do it to one of the least of these, whether its cold water, a warm coat, or an education, may we remember we are doing it unto Jesus. In the name of the one taught us to love our neighbor we pray.
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