Auschwitz at 80
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” - John 1:5
Today marks 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz. Auschwitz was a place of unimaginable darkness. It’s almost impossible to grasp the magnitude of what happened there during the Holocaust as millions of innocent men, women, and children were murdered simply because of who they were.
Auschwitz forces us to confront the reality of humanity’s brokenness and sin. Even after all these decades, the magnitude of such evil leaves us staggered. It shows us just exactly how far human hatred can go.
Yet, into this broken world, Jesus came as light. His light shines even in the deepest darkness. The liberation of Auschwitz reminds us of an unshakeable truth: darkness is never the end of the story; light has the power to break through.
The Ongoing Reality of Antisemitism
Though Auschwitz was liberated 80 years ago, the hatred that fuelled it did not vanish. Antisemitism - prejudice or hatred against Jewish people - still remains a persistent reality, often hiding in plain sight. While antisemitism reveals itself in visible and shocking ways - graffiti on synagogues and Holocaust memorials, Jewish cemeteries vandalised, hateful online comments, and physical attacks against Jewish people in their own neighbourhoods - it isn’t always so overt. Sometimes it takes quieter forms: an offhand comment, a stereotype passed off as a joke, or the subtle exclusion of Jewish voices.
Light in the Face of Darkness
Marking this anniversary isn’t just about remembering the past - it’s about learning from it. It’s about asking ourselves what kind of people we want to be and what kind of world we want to leave behind.
Standing against hatred doesn’t always have to mean grand gestures. It starts in our everyday choices - challenging prejudice when we see it, speaking up for others when it’s uncomfortable, and teaching the next generation to value every human life.
Remembering is not just reflection but a call to resist hatred and indifference. The darkness of Auschwitz shows us the depths of human evil, but the light that broke through reminds us that hope and goodness can prevail.
80 years on, may we never forget the lessons of Auschwitz. This Holocaust Memorial Day, let us honour those who suffered by speaking out against hatred, building bridges, and refusing to other, dehumanise, or write off entire groups of people. Instead, let's choose the love of God - a love that calls us to see the dignity and worth in every human being and compels us to shine Christ’s light into the darkest places.