Home Alone, Die Hard, and the Nativity

One of my all-time favorite Christmas movies is Home Alone. You know the one: Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister accidentally gets left behind when his family heads to Paris for Christmas. Rather than panic (well, not for long), Kevin channels his inner MacGyver to defend his home against two not-so-bright burglars, Harry and Marv.

Kevin’s creativity in thwarting these criminals is nothing short of genius. He heats up doorknobs, rigs paint cans to swing into faces, scatters toy cars across the floor, and even pulls off the ol' classic: feathers and glue. It’s a masterclass in booby traps that makes you wonder if Kevin should be in engineering school instead of third grade.

What About Die Hard?

You might think Home Alone is in a category of its own, but it’s oddly similar to another Christmas classic: Die Hard.

Stay with me here. In Die Hard, NYPD cop John McClane finds himself trapped in a Los Angeles skyscraper taken over by terrorists during a Christmas party. Like Kevin, John uses his wits (and a fair bit of luck) to take out the bad guys one by one, culminating in some truly iconic moments. (Yippee-ki-yay, anyone?)

But what makes these two films quintessential Christmas movies? Is it just because they happen to be set during the holidays? I think there’s more to it.

Booby Traps, Bad Guys, and the Nativity

Both stories—though wildly different in tone and target audience—tap into something deeper. In their own way, they echo the story of the Nativity.

Now, before you start picturing baby Jesus setting up booby traps to fend off King Herod’s soldiers, let me clarify. The Christmas story, at its core, is about light breaking into darkness. It’s about a child entering a dangerous world, faced with powerful enemies determined to snuff him out. Sound familiar?

Kevin faces relentless burglars. John McClane battles an army of bad guys. And Jesus? He’s born into a world where powerful forces want to destroy him. Herod’s soldiers may not have slipped on micro machines, but the threat to Jesus’ life was every bit as real.

Hope in the Darkness
And just like Kevin and John, Jesus doesn’t fight back in the usual way. Instead, he shows us the limitless creativity of God—a Savior sent as a vulnerable child who disarms his opponents not with traps or fists, but with love, humility, and sacrifice.

Think about that moment in Home Alone when Kevin is finally caught by the burglars. They hang him on a door hook and prepare to hurt him. Just when it seems like all hope is lost, Kevin’s neighbor shows up with a snow shovel and saves the day.

Now fast forward to the cross. Jesus is captured and hung on a cross. It looks like the end. Darkness seems to have won. But then, in the ultimate twist, his Father steps in, raising him from the dead and delivering a final blow to death itself.

Why These Stories Matter
This is why we celebrate Christmas. In a world that often feels darker by the day, it’s a reminder that light still shines. That no matter how small or overwhelmed we feel, we’re never truly alone.

We love Home Alone because Kevin’s courage and ingenuity inspire us. We cheer for John McClane because his resilience reminds us not to back down.

And we cling to the story of Christmas because it tells us that the darkness doesn’t get the last word.

Merry Christmas—And Don’t Lose Hope!
So this Christmas, take heart. Be brave. Get creative. And know that, no matter what, you’re not home alone—someone’s watching over you, keeping you under his wings, and ensuring that light will always triumph over darkness.

Merry Christmas!

Fr. Roderick