My Advent JourneyNäide

Whatever: Part 1

'“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”' (Luke 1:38, NIV)

'Whatever'. It’s a one-word response that can be taken in many ways. When someone is asking you to do something you don’t want to do, but you feel miserably obligated, you might have a sarcastic hint in your 'whatever' response. If a request has been made and out of love and respect, you want to comply, you respond with a positive 'whatever.'

Sometimes, the 'whatever' is given after a significant pause. That usually means you feel the weight of the request and want to ensure you can follow through with what is being asked. That is where Mary found herself as she pondered the words of the angel to carry and give birth to the Son of God. She responded with a thoughtful 'whatever'—a reply of total abandonment of the plan of God.

• Is there a time when you gave the reply of 'whatever’ to the Lord? Where did it lead you? What did you learn from the experience?

Prayer: Lord, today, my response to you is 'whatever.' Amen.