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Good morning. I wonder what lies before you this weekend. For many people it’s become known as ‘Super’ Saturday, the day when the shopping season reaches its climax. Alternatively, some folk may be staying in bed to recover from the excesses of ‘Mad’ Friday, the last one before Christmas and the most popular evening for office parties - with all the headaches they can leave behind. Or perhaps it’s more a case of ‘Panic’ Saturday, the dawning realisation that you’re way behind on your Christmas list and have no idea about what presents to get.

 I don’t know which if any of these descriptions applies to you. But one way or another, I expect that for many of us it will be a busy weekend, as we try to ensure we’re ready for the Christmas festivities to come. And it may be that in the midst of it all we wonder whether we haven’t got our priorities a little mixed up, that we’re so busy sorting and spending money on things, that we lose sight of the people who matter and the precious time we have with them. 

If it’s any comfort, I’m still catching up with my own preparations. But the good news of Christmas is that it doesn’t depend on whether we’re ready or not. It’s God who decides when to come into his world and our lives, and I wonder if there’s ever been a time when people haven’t been too busy or preoccupied with other things. It’s a bit like the old nursery game of hide and seek; it all begins with God saying in the birth of Jesus, ‘I’m coming – ready or not’. 

Let us pray; 

Heavenly Father,

In the midst of all our preparations, help us to remember that Christ comes in your time and not ours; and amidst all our busyness to give thanks for those unexpected moments of peace in which we recognise your presence among us.

For Christ’s sake, Amen.