Hope When I Feel Alone Series

This year is the 33rd anniversary of the “Home Alone” movie where a young boy named Kevin McAlister was accidently left behind and alone in his home during the holidays while his family causing young Kevin to have to set up bungling traps for “to be” burglars- “Harry and Marv.”

The last 33 years have brought a lot of changes in the world. In the movie when Kevin goes shopping on his own, his grocery bill came up to $19.83. Yet, recently someone recently purchased the same items and published the results saying: “The grand total is $63.73 and when you add the $5.25 tax; you get $68.99.” Then they said: “I am surprised we don’t have more Harry and Marv’s running around stealing food out of our pantries.” ?

Yet, on the fun side, Catherine O’Hara and Macaulay Culkin reunited in Hollywood for a “Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony”. Here’s their picture in 1990. (Show picture)

And here’s their reunion picture: (Show picture)

Times changes and marches on. Yet, one thing does not change; none of us like to feel alone. Yet, 52% of Americans say that they “feel alone” or “lonely” on a regular basis.

It is interesting that God cares about loneliness. One of the first things that God is recorded saying in early Genesis is that he saw Adam and said: “It is not good that man be alone. “ Genesis 2:18

Can I make a confession, if I were the only man on earth, that verse would apply. I don’t like being alone. Some people love their “alone” time. God bless you strange people. I’m not an “alone” guy; the movie “Home Alone” is a horror flick for me. I love to be around people.

Being alone can be a challenge.

Transition:

The birth announcement of Jesus as exciting and challenging all at the same time.

In short, it would usher into her life a consistent reminder of how alone she was. Here, the “mother of the Lord” would feel loneliness. Likewise, you might be surprised to know that Jesus would even face loneliness. The worst would be on the cross when He would say: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46

So what does Mary teach us in the Christmas story about her response to loneliness, especially at Christmas time? What does she teach us about how Jesus brings hope to the lonely and fills us lives in the empty spaces and stages of life that bring loneliness?

Transitional Sentence: Jesus brings hope to the lonely through:

I. Living Inside Us

Vs. 35- “The angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. “

Explanation:

One of the great mysteries of the Christmas story is that fact that God came to live inside Mary. It’s miraculous in so many ways.

The Bible tells us that God cannot be contained. It reads: “But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain Him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?” 2 Chronicles 2:6

Solomon who was the wisest man to ever live was smart enough to understand that “nothing could contain God.” He could not be put in a box and still can’t. Yet, do you know what is dumbfounding about Christmas; not only did God contain Himself to a box; but that box was a virgins womb.

Christmas ought to blow your mind-- and if you understand God-- it will. You can’t avoid it. Think about what the Psalmist said: “If I ascend to heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in the grave, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139:7-10

Christmas reminds us of how radical God’s love for us is. He downsized to the size of an embryo. He who created all things was created in a mother’s womb. He who could not be contained; became contained.

Have you ever had one of those lollipops that takes hours to melt down in your mouth? That’s what this fact is like for us. It takes hours, days, a lifetime of Christmas’s to break it down, and to try to digest it.

Yet, God describes the miracle of the incarnation by telling her that the Holy Spirit is going to get involved. He said: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. “