On the Flesh of the Word
On the Flesh of the Word
Incarnational Hermeneutics
This chapter reflects on the claim central to all Christian confessions: the Word became Flesh. The author claims that there has been a long tradition of misreading that has caused us to think in terms of spiritualizing the flesh rather than the incarnation of the spirit. This misappropriation is evident in the marginalization of the Eucharist in Christian spirituality. The author offers a detailed and original reading of St. Augustine’s Confessions as an exemplary text of carnal hermeneutics, in which he finds a “conversion of the flesh” alongside the more well known “conversion of the mind” and “conversion of the heart.” This overlooked conversion is evident in: Augustine’s reversal of the traditional sensory hierarchy, giving primacy to touch; in the use of the parable of the prodigal son to emphasize the flesh; and in the extended use of language associated with hunger, eating, and feasting.
Keywords: Eucharist, Confessions, St. Augustine, Touch, Flesh, Conversion
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