An assist for reading Jesus of Nazareth

I have followed some of the earlier MOJ discussion on the Pope’s recently published book, Jesus of Nazareth. I am reading the same volume now, although in Italian—so my progress is slow. I am not sure I have any answers for the questions that Michael Scaperlanda has posed, but I would like to suggest an insight that can help with how this work of the Pope assists the CLT project. Obviously the Pope is addressing a type of authority: Biblical. But he is putting it in the context of another authority: the Magisterium. As a Catholic, he is much affected by these sources of authority, which he (and I) consider good. But as a German, he was much affected by another authority: that of the totalitarian state. And in this context, he witnessed the dangers of a godless authority that was subjective and based on the whim of the totalitarian state. I have read the Pope’s short autobiography, Milestones: Memoirs 1927-1977. From this book, I have been able to make some relevant connections between Joseph Ratzinger the Catholic, the theologian, and the pastor and the proper role of authority in Christian life. As Rick Garnett says, check it out (i.e., Milestones). You may find that having Milestones as a background and point of reference will place Jesus of Nazareth in a more accessible context that has a bearing on applying Pope Benedict’s new book to our CLT efforts.   RJA sj