Reflections on Pope Benedict XVI, the Incarnation & methods of Biblical study
By
William Lyon Tupman. For a Catechesis class at St. Michael's Croydon,
15th
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.
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