Holocaust Memorial Day Service at Derby Cathedral Thursday 26 January at 2012

Short homily by the Dean of Derby

From one point of view this Address feels like impertinence! The Holocaust happened to people of the Jewish faith precisely because they were Jews. Who is a Christian priest to intrude?

But the Cathedral is deeply committed to interfaith dialogue.

And in that spirit, and from a Christian perspective, here are the reflections of a Christian priest trying to make sense of the Holocaust. I can really only do so within the framework of Christian theology. So I offer this in the spirit of dialogue. Others will see it very differently. How could the God of Love allow six million people to be eliminated? And was the God of Love indifferent to the suffering of the six million – let alone those who have died in other genocides?

Christian theology affirms that Love implies freedom.

Since God truly loves us, he allows us freedom to do great deeds of goodness, and to do terrible deeds of darkness too.

And in the Christian tradition, God is not indifferent. Christians affirm (and others struggle with the affirmation) that God in Christ experienced on the Cross of Calvary darkness, injustice, demonization, betrayal, and a painful lingering death. God, on this reading, is the opposite of indifferent: He is involved, committed, engaged up to his very neck in the midst of human mess. He remains transcendent but he is also at one with our darkest predicaments.

Here at least is an offering for interfaith reflection and discussion. Only so can some of us come to terms with the darkest days of humanity. May this day turn us from the darkness of our fears and violence, to the way of dialogue, cooperation and love.

The Very Revd Dr John Davies DL

Dean of Derby