Pope Benedict XVI, the Incarnation & methods of Biblical study

Reflections on Pope Benedict XVI, the Incarnation & methods of Biblical study 

By William Lyon Tupman. For a Catechesis class at St. Michael's Croydon, 15^th November 2018.

Focus text: Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth (vol. 3). Bible passages: Mt. 1; Lk. 3; Gen. 1; Jn 1.

In our Catechesis sessions this term at St Michael's, we are studying the Incarnation - and alongside our study, as part of our pastoral assistants' formation programme, we are also studying the infancy narratives of Jesus Christ as written about by Pope Benedict XVI. Here are a few of my reflections on his methodology, as he writes on aspects of the Incarnation. 

Pope Benedict XVI highlights the importance of equally appreciating the authority of Scripture, tradition and reason in the formation and understanding of Christian doctrine. This is, to me, very important; we human beings are finite and limited, whereas God is infinite and eternal. Thus, our own analysis and understanding of the Bible may well be good, but we can never fully comprehend what God has not yet revealed to us. Yet, using the God-given gift of reason, together with the tradition of the Church as instituted by Christ Himself, we may have a good understanding of the message of the Gospel, as revealed to us by God through Christ Jesus. 

This concept is helpful when contemplating the infancy narratives of Jesus, which Pope Benedict XVI writes extensively about. The four Gospels do not tell us very much at all about Jesus's life as a baby and a child; indeed we see nothing in Mark or John, and only something in Matthew and Luke. Both Matthew 1 and Luke 3 offer genealogies - almost in the form of a family tree - leading to the birth of Jesus. Yet, upon reading and comparing these, some of the names and details differ. If one interprets the Scriptures literally in this instance, one is left with an uneasy conflict - with no easy explanation as to why there isn't a single and consistent record of Christ's genealogy in the Bible. 

But when Biblical interpretation is carried out together with the Church's tradition, by the discernment of our God-given reason, it is still possible to both authoritatively and confidently comprehend these genealogies, as well as other Biblical passages of all kinds and genres. Pope Benedict XVI recognises this, and also how, in this instance, the spiritual significance is more important than the literal accuracy of these genealogies, with regard to Jesus's earthly origins and lineage; His Heavenly heritage and pre-existence is of an infinitely greater degree of significance than His earthly lineage, along with the immediate Holy Family. Yet, while literal accuracy can sometimes be of secondary importance, it is certainly crucial in many other passages of Scripture - namely all the aspects of the life, teaching, passion, death and resurrection of Christ. 

In the light of Pope Benedict's writings and these theological understandings, can one believe the Incarnation literally happened as we see in the Bible? One may wonder how such a thing is biologically possible - but we can have full confidence that the Incarnation, and the Virgin Birth, happened. For God, all things are possible - He is omnipotent, or all-powerful. The Incarnation is a manifestation of the Holy Trinity - just as God the Father brought creation into being through His pre-existent Son by the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1, John 1), God the Father sends the Holy Spirit to Mary to make her conceive, to bear God the Son. 

Certainly, stories like this are perhaps overpowering in everyday terms; indeed, Mary herself seems perplexed at first when the Angel Gabriel announces good news to her. But Mary is contemplative, and her humble, free acceptance of the angelic message is crucial - as well as serving as an example and role model for our faith, her openness and response to God allows the Dear Christ to enter in to the world, to be in and with the world. She says yes, and then it happens; as Karl Barth writes, God intervenes, and reveals Himself in the Incarnation. 

Perhaps most importantly, this is the attitude we should always have when studying the Scriptures, and theology in general - to be open to the Spirit of God, and especially as we learn more about the life and Gospel of His Son - a balance which Pope Benedict XVI attains excellently.