On our fifth and final episode of the Women of Advent, we're talking all things Mary, Mother of Jesus. Mary has captivated followers of Jesus since the beginning as an exemplar of faith, a holy dwelling place, and the mother of God. We talk all about Mary's many titles, as well as the problems she has posed by being human but giving birth to the divine. While Mary's story might begin with her role as Jesus' mother, it quickly becomes clear that Mary occupies many different spaces in our religious history. 

Mary shows up in all four Gospels (thought not by name!), but we focus on her story found in Luke 1 and Luke 2. 

In our fourth episode, we're looking at a woman who is technically not named in Matthew's genealogy. Nevertheless, she shows up in a parenthetical reference as "the wife of Uriah." Bathsheba's story is filled with violence, death, and grief. Yet Bathsheba has fascinated people throughout history, and continues to spark debates among religious communities today. Through her story told in 2 Samuel 11 and 2 Samuel 12, Bathsheba compels us to think about what happens when history only presents one side of the story - the side that bulldozes over people in poor, precarious positions. 

Our third episode focuses on Ruth. The Book of Ruth is one of only two books named after a woman in our bible, and a hopeful, positive glow illuminates the text from (almost) the very beginning. We dive into Ruth's narrative and discuss how she is a paragon of righteousness, but also highlight how Ruth combats the patriarchy, experiences grief, and battles the erasure of her identity. If you want to follow along, you can read the Book of Ruth (it's only four chapters!). 

On our second episode, we explore the life and legacy of Rahab. While most people know Rahab as "that prostitute who God redeemed," she is MUCH more than that. Rahab exemplifies faithfulness toward God, compassion for the stranger, and cleverness to survive in the most dire situations. Through her story, we are invited to consider how God works through all people, and how even those who seem to be our enemies have much to teach us about God. If you'd like to follow along, check out Joshua 2 and Joshua 6. 

Welcome to our FIRST episode! Today we're exploring Tamar, an important character in the book of Genesis who takes it upon herself to get what she's owed - even when abandoned by the rest of her community. Tamar's story invites us to consider our world's brokenness and the surprising ways God shows up to offer grace and realize justice in the midst of it all. If you want to follow along, check out Genesis 38.