Words Chiseled in Stone

Some things happen which cause words to be chiseled in stone.  On April 20, 1896 at 6:30 in the evening in the small Austrian village of Braunau Am Inn, just across the border from German Bavaria, Klara gave birth to a son.  She was married to Alois.  Alois was a widower and Klara was quite pregnant at the time; he was twice her age, as well as technically her uncle.  At age 39 Alois was running for public office and on the advice of his uncle Johann Hiedler, was going to change his name from Schicklgruber (the name of his unwed mother) to Alois Hiedler. 

When he wrote it at the magistrate’s office he wrote “Hitler” instead of Hiedler.  That Easter Sunday evening, the mother of this newborn, named her baby boy “Adolph”.

Adolph Hitler has been called the worst madman monster of the 20^th century, responsible for the persecution, torture and execution of more people than almost anyone in history.

Today the three story house in which he was born that Easter evening is not marked in any way by his name. There is simply a marker in front which declares the voice of Hitler’s victims…For peace, freedom and democracy, never again fascism, millions of dead admonish.  The phrase “never again fascism” is chiseled in stone…something that must never be forgotten, a reminder that we must always refuse and rebuke the kind of hate for which Hitler stood.

There are other (better) words chiseled in stone, words which stand for love and not hate.  Jesus told his disciples to "remember me" by participating in the supper of grace.

Today

We are just two days from celebrating the 50th anniversary of the famous "March on Washington" led by Dr. Martin Luther King.  It is a time for remembering important steps toward freedom and equality for all.  This was a march against everything which people like Hitler believed and for which they brutally marched through history.  

But as you remember the 1963 march for freedom, remember where freedom was born, and that which Dr. King preached; it was Jesus who led the march for true freedom.  So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.  John 8:36 (NLT)