Sir, I Have No One”: Loneliness and the Healing Presence of Christ
In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen. May the blessing of the Father who calls us and His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ who saves us, and the Holy Spirit who sanctifies and transforms us be with us all, that we may hear His word and bear fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. Amen.
1. Introduction: The Cry of the Heart
Today’s Gospel presents the man who lay by the pool of Bethesda for thirty-eight years. His most heart-wrenching words were not about his sickness, but about his solitude:
“Sir, I have no one…” (John 5:7)
It is the honest cry of many hearts today—those who feel unseen, forgotten, disconnected.
2. Loneliness in Mental Health
Loneliness is defined in psychology not by being alone, but by the pain of feeling disconnected or uncared for.
Example: A young woman surrounded by social media likes, but no one to talk to when she cries. A widowed elder who hasn’t had a meaningful conversation in weeks.
Loneliness affects both mind and body. Studies show it can increase risk for depression, anxiety, and even physical illness.
3. Christ, the God Who Draws Near
But Christ—our compassionate Healer—walked straight to the forgotten man.
He didn’t wait for someone to bring the man.
He became the “Someone.”
Beloved, we should believe that “Christ is the answer to the cry of the forgotten.”
This is the Gospel. When you say, “I have no man,” Christ replies, “You have Me.”
4. Biblical and Coptic Examples of Loneliness and Divine Presence
a) St. Mary the Egyptian
She lived 17 years in sinful pleasure and then 47 years in isolation and repentance in the desert. Humanly speaking—she was totally alone.
But it was in that solitude that she found the deepest companionship with Christ.
When St. Zosima met her, her body was frail—but her soul was radiant with the presence of God.
b) The Prophet Elijah
After calling down fire from heaven, Elijah fled in fear and loneliness, saying:
“It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life… I am alone.” (1 Kings 19:4,10)
But God didn’t abandon him. He sent an angel with food. He whispered in a still small voice.
God meets us not just in fire and thunder—but in quiet moments of despair.
c) St. Arsenius the Great
A Roman tutor of emperors who chose the life of the desert. He once said:
“Many times I spoke and regretted it, but I never regretted my silence.”
He lived in deep solitude, but never loneliness—for his silence was full of God.
d) St. Macarius of Egypt
One day a demon told him: “You fast, and I do not eat. You stay up late, and I never sleep. But one thing you do that defeats me: your humility.”
St. Macarius often walked alone in the wilderness, carrying the burdens of others in prayer.
His “loneliness” was a holy intercession.
5. From Isolation to Connection: What Can We Do?
Christ challenges us:
Will we be like the crowd that steps over the weak, or will we be the human someone is waiting for?
This Lent, let’s practice:
- Presence: Sit with someone. Call someone. Text someone who’s been silent.
- Prayer: Bring the names of the lonely before Christ in the liturgy and in your room.
- Participation: Don’t just attend church—belong. Join a ministry. Invite someone in.
6. Final Word: God with Us
The paralytic’s healing began before he stood up—
It began when he realized he was no longer alone.
Let Christ speak to your own lonely heart. And let Him send you to be His hands, His feet, and His voice for others.
Reflection Questions (Optional for Bulletin or Discussion):
- Have I ever felt like the paralytic—abandoned or overlooked?
- Who in my life might be silently crying, “I have no one”?
- How can I be Christ’s presence to someone this week?
May the Lord bless us, transform our hearts and minds, that our homes may stand on the Rock, our hands serve in the harvest, and our hearts long for Heaven. Amen.