Friends, This time of year, we often get the Home Alone Two movie. You probably the movie, with Macaulay Culkin as Kevin. It is Christmas time and the McAllister family is preparing for a vacation in Paris, France. Kevin, the youngest in the family got into a scuffle with his older brother Buzz, and was sent to his room on the third floor of his house. The next morning, while the rest of the family were in a rush to make it to the airport on time, they completely forgot about Kevin, who now has the house to himself. At first, home alone was fun for Kevin, until he discovers two burglars, Harry and Marv about to rob his house Christmas Eve. Kevin acts quickly by rigging the house with various booby traps to stop the burglars. It’s very slap stick! At one point, Kevin goes to church. In the empty pews, he has his first conversation with his next door neighbour, "Old Man" Marley, who was rumoured to have murdered his family many years earlier. Marley is listening to the junior choir sing. His grand-daughter, who he never sees, is in the choir. He doesn’t see her, because years earlier he had a big argument with his son, her father. They have not spoken for years. Kevin encourages him to back down, re-open the relationship, and risk a conversation. Kevin is the Christ-figure in that vignette – with words of grace and encouragement offered in a sanctuary, against a backdrop of sacred Christmas carols. Later, Marley helps him stop the thieves. And the next morning after the surprise return of his family, Kevin goes to the window and sees Marley greeting his son and family. As Marley hugs his grand-daughter, he looks up to see Kevin, waves at him, and Kevin waves back, smiling, as Marley heads inside with his family. In the familiar Christmas story in St. Matthew chapter 1, Joseph may have learned one of the key lessons of parenting, long before Jesus graced the Bethlehem manger: Namely, that you will have to learn to back down, from time to time, from your cherished position. Joseph was a principled person: Principled, faithful, devout, and righteous in his faith, and in how he lived. He was a ‘do-it-right’ person – do-it-by-the-book – by the teachings of his faith – the holy scriptures. And then this pregnancy happens with Mary. It was not by the book! Joseph first thinks that his only response is to do what’s required, what’s right. Break it off with Mary – deal with it all discreetly! After all, he is shamed, dishonoured, disappointed, and embarrassed. So, his decides to take the high ground that his faith had taught and nurtured in him. And just when he should be able to sleep peacefully, there’s this vivid with the clear implication: “Joseph, dear Joseph, back down, stay in relationship, don’t be afraid to back track -- take Mary as your wife.” We can easily imagine the next day in the first dawn of morning light, Joseph going to Mary, to begin to live out that wisdom, and that dream’s direction. God’s grace attends that tear-stained love-filled reunion. The good news given to Joseph, is not just about the Child Jesus, all that he will do – and the meaning of his life. But, there is good news in the truth that God is in the backing down! God is in the difficult and sometimes awkward resolution, and furthering of our relationships. God is in the backing down moments, and the moments of reconciliation and mending. We fear them! We avoid them! – the compromise and the flexing. We like the high ground. We dodge them if we can – but God is with us in those moments! In fact, God companions us through the difficulties and into those tender moments of backing down, and finding grace for tough situations. Sometimes we come to regret having drawn a line in the sand, because it becomes hard to retreat. It is in the mending and bending of relationships that God is with us. God understands! God companions! God in Christ has backed down from a place of glory, into a mucky stable, and eventually onto a cross, that we might live with grace and mercy – with forgiveness and compassion! God attends us – encourages us – is with us – in all those awkward moments of backing down, bridging gaps, and staying in relationship. God blesses us as we live-out Christmas!