Mother Roots: The Female Ancestors of Jesus

The culture of Bible times rarely included women in any geneaology, yet in the Gospel of Matthew four women are named in the ancestry of Jesus: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. Why were these four women included and no others?

To enter their extraordinary stories, according to Pearson, is to experience courageous women who had a vision of God's faithfulness and who brought about change. Jesus embraced his heritage and lived out his ministry in radical and unorthodox ways, influenced by his foremothers. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba reflected crossroads and turning points in the history of Israel. These four women took the initiative at crucial stages and made decisions that changed the future. Their lives were empowered by God. The book's final chapter is an homage to Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Mother Roots is written primarily for small groups and contains six chapters that offer a fresh perspective on biblical women who served as vehicles of God's message.

Helen Bruch Pearson is a retreat, workshop and seminar leader, spiritual formation director, designer and leader of worship and liturgical events. Helen served on the faculty and administration of Candler School of Theology at Emory University from 1981-99 and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.