Lent Stories This is the first of my Lent Pilgrimage blogs. For the next seven weeks, I will be looking at one aspect of the story of Jesus’s last days, and his death and resurrection. This week I’m looking at what Lent means. Each week I will share an excerpt from my first novel LeavingContinue reading “Lent Pilgrimage Week 1”
Author Archives: leavingbethany
Aemilia Metella Interviews Tabitha – part 2
Even death could not stop her If you have not already done so, read part 1 of Aemilia’s interview here (https://leavingbethany.com/2023/01/10/aemilia-metella-interviews-tabitha-part-1/). She left us with the ultimate cliffhanger, so read on to see what happened next. “Yes, the day I died,” Tabitha said. “That still seems strange to say.” Melia took my hand and ledContinue reading “Aemilia Metella Interviews Tabitha – part 2”
Aemilia Metella Interviews Tabitha – Part 1
The woman they could not keep down Three women jumped up and down on the jetty and waved in my direction. I looked around at the other passengers on the ship and none of them waved back, so I supposed they were for me. I picked up my bag and walked down the gangplank ontoContinue reading “Aemilia Metella Interviews Tabitha – Part 1”
Mary’s song of deliverance
As Christmas approaches, our thoughts turn to the stories of Jesus’s birth and one character above all others, that is to Mary, Jesus’s mother. This young unmarried woman, no more than a girl, has just heard that she will become pregnant and give birth to God’s son. She sings a mighty song, sometimes called theContinue reading “Mary’s song of deliverance”
I’m calling on the God of Martha
This month’s blog is a little different from usual. If you are a regular reader, you will be familiar with my creative interviews of Biblical women of the New Testament by my fictional Roman journalist, Aemilia Metella. Or my discussions on various aspects relating to Biblical women. But this month I decided to try somethingContinue reading “I’m calling on the God of Martha“
Who were the women who anointed Jesus?
The Bible stories of the women who anointed Jesus’s feet have intrigued me for a long time. Wondering who they were and why they performed such a public display of their devotion to Jesus, and in the process opened themselves up to misinterpretation, censure and ridicule. All four gospels tell the story, with slight variations,Continue reading “Who were the women who anointed Jesus?”
An Interview with Salome
Aemilia Metella interviews the woman trapped in adultery who was taken to Jesus Tiberias is a new city lying on the shores of Lake Galilee. Its layout and buildings resemble nearly every other Roman town I have visited. This should not be surprising, as it was founded by Herod Antipas and dedicated to his friend,Continue reading “An Interview with Salome”
Reclaiming Mary Magdalene
Ask most people to name one of Jesus’s female disciples or followers, and they will probably say Mary Magdalene, and if you probe a little further, they will say, “wasn’t she a prostitute?” In my May 2022 blog, I talked about the Bible’s “bad girls”, those to whom history has not been kind. https://leavingbethany.com/2022/05/04/taking-a-fresh-look-at-the-bad-girls-of-the-bible/ WhenContinue reading “Reclaiming Mary Magdalene”
Aemilia Metella interviews Mary Magdalene
My guide led me through the narrow congested streets of Jerusalem. He led me to a backstreet and a building with a staircase at the side. I followed him up the steps and into a room which was much larger than I imagined. Several people moved around, some talking, others praying and a group laughingContinue reading “Aemilia Metella interviews Mary Magdalene”
Taking a fresh look at the bad girls of the Bible
It’s taken me a while to get around to the theme of this month’s blog, and I have debated with myself even about the title. Second-guessing myself whether I should even discuss the historical sexualisation of female Biblical characters. Who are the bad girls referred to in the title? These are the women who historyContinue reading “Taking a fresh look at the bad girls of the Bible”
Leaving Bethany 