common like you and me

Today we read about the crucifixion in the One Year Bible, from John 19:23-42. We read about the three Marys that were there - the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the wife of Clopas.

It seems odd that they were all named Mary. But Mary was a very common name at the time, and is still super common today all around the world. So was Joseph. Joe is so common today we call someone a Joe Blow. And John is so common that we call people John Doe.

Three very common names. Very common people, really. Nothing extraordinary about them when you think about it. Mary was a stay at home mom. Joseph was a builder, a blue collar worker. John was a fisherman. They weren't royalty. There was nothing about their families that were wealthy or powerful. They were just normal people like me and you.

But Jesus did amazing things in their lives. He transformed them into heroes of the faith. He took the very low and common, and made it extraordinary.

He will do the same thing with us, if we let Him. We do have to cooperate though. Stop spending so much time worrying about money and what others think, and more time focusing on what He wants us to do - which we will find 1000 times more fulfilling and meaningful anyway.

God, thanks for taking common people like me and doing great things with us.