One of my favorite Christmas movies is “Home Alone.” There is one tender scene when Kevin is walking outside the church looking at the outdoor manger scene and you hear the choir singing from inside the church.
Kevin has been abandoned by his family. Supposedly he was inadverterly forgotten by his parents as they traveled to France for Christmas vacation. We find Kevin “all alone” in the pew listening to the carols when he spots his next door neighbor across the aisle. You see terror in this little boy’s eyes because he has been led to believe that Marley is a killer who has never been caught. Shockingly, Marley “crosses the aisle and walks up to the panic-stricken boy, smiles, and says “Merry Christmas.”
The dialogue is memorable if you ever had the feeling of not being wanted by your family, your religion or you think God no longer accepts you. Marley explains that he had come to church to hear his little granddaughter sing in the choir. He can only see her in church because he is afraid to go to her home. Marley explains that he and his son had a quarrel many years ago. He was told by that he was no longer welcomed in his son’s home.
Kevin innocently asks Marley what keeps him away. Marley very sadly says that he s afraid. “The older you get the more afraid you become.” Little Kevin confesses that sometimes he has not been very nice to his family. But he loves his dad very much and even though they had a quarrel he stills loves him and would go back to see him if they had a fight.
You can sense how sad Marley feels being estranged from his family. Finally, Kevin says to Marley: “You should call home.” Marley winces at this suggestion yet you sense he desperately wants to trust this child’s words. If only he could believe.
Many people are afraid to return to their churches on Christmas because they feel unworthy. Perhaps, you had a quarrel with someone in the church; perhaps, you no longer feel welcomed because we have been told that we are not living up to the norms of the institution. Many good people are “home alone” in their hearts.
I like to think that there is a voice calling from the manger to everyone who has felt like Marley and Kevin. We have been made to feel unworthy. How sad that some use their power to make the rest of us feel inferior. We are not living the Christian life or worse others have condemned us by their words and actions.
We need to call home. We need to “believe.” I encourage everyone this Christmas to come back to your churches and kneel by the manger scene. Look closely into the eyes of this tiny babe and can you not see the warmth and love. You have never been forgotten. Despite the harshness of life, God wants us to know that we are loved and waits for us to accept his embrace no matter how we choose to worship or practice our faith.
It is time my friends to come back to your churches and surrender your fears. Allow the power of God’s understanding and peace to take root in your souls again and walk along side of your God who loves you more than you know.
Immanuel watches over us as we reflect: “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” (Matthew 10:40).
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who feel left out in the cold by the harshness of this world. Help them to surrender their fears and give them the courage to come back to a faith community that welcomes all who feel unworthy. Believe and your heart will find peace.
