Lent of Liberation by Cheri L. Mills

Author:Cheri L. Mills
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781646982097
Publisher: Presbyterian Publishing Corporation

Day 24

“I ‘scaped’ from Sussex too, from a man by the name of George M. Davis, a large man, dark-complected, and about fifty years of age; he belonged to the old side Methodist Church, was a man with a family, and followed farming, or had farming done by me and others. Besides he was a justice of the peace. I always believed that the Master above had no wish for me to be held in bondage all my days; but I thought if I made up my mind to stay in Slavery, and not to make a desperate trial for my freedom, I would never have any better times. I had heard that my old mistress had willed me to her children, and children’s children. I thought at this rate there was no use of holding on any longer for the good time to come, so here I said, I am going, if I died a trying.”

—The True Story of George Alligood

“[F]or I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”

—Matthew 25:35–36

What makes bad people bad people is that they don’t know they’re bad people. And what makes good people good people is they don’t realize they’re good people. Jesus said in this famous parable that the bad people who were condemned asked Jesus, “‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’” (Matt. 25:44). Jesus explained, “‘just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me” (v. 45).

The righteous were rewarded for doing good, yet they were totally unaware they were doing good. They asked, “When did we see you hungry, and naked, and in prison or sick?” Jesus replied, “What you have done to the least of these, you have done to me” (see vv. 37–40).

George Davis, who owned George Alligood, was a member of the Methodist church. He was unaware that by imposing brutality upon his slave he was imposing brutality upon Christ. He was unaware that every time he went to his Methodist church to worship God, he was persecuting God, who always identifies with the least. Davis likely found this out after he passed and there was a great separation.

Because Jesus closely identifies with the oppressed, if we apply the Matthew 25:35–36 principle to the racial injustices committed against Blacks in America today, Jesus is saying to us, “You’ve done it unto me.” Thus, when we see Black males disproportionately jailed and sentenced, resulting in mass incarceration, yet remain silent, Jesus says, “You’ve done it unto me.” When we see Blacks disproportionately dying from the coronavirus, yet remain silent, Jesus says, “You’ve done it unto me.

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