Expert: Michael Clark, Ph.D. - 7/23/2006

Question
Hello,

I have read--from what I consider quite orthodox Catholic sources--the opinion that incidents such as Jacob's wrestling with the Angel in 32:28, or Isaiah's "seeing God face to face", Moses' encounter with the burning bush, or various other mentions of angels in the Old Testament should be taken to refer to Christ Himself appearing to men.  

This would seem to contradict the idea that the Eternal Logos was first made incarnate in the womb of the Blessed Virgin.

However, even Osee 12:3, for instance, and various other parts of Scripture refer to Jacob having wrestled, not solely with an angel, but with God Himself.

St. Justin Martyr said the same in his exegesis of the passage.

How, then, if Christ was first made incarnate as man in 1 A.D., was He also found in human form thousands of years before while wrestling with Jacob?

Answer
As part of the Trinity He always is, was and will be. Take a look at this article, especially the first quotation:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15047a.htm

And these paragraphs from the Catholic Catechism:

http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/495.htm

http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/850.htm

As Jesus, the incarnate man, the relationship with mankind has been said to become more intimate/immediate with His perfect human example, the New Testament, the Apostles and saints, the creation of the temporal Church and the institution of the Eucharist and the other sacraments. Also the BVM, as Mother of God and mediatrix, contributes to this increased intimacy/immediacy.

http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/969.htm

If this seems confusing remember that part of the dogma of the Trinity is about its mysterious nature. A human being apparently must have the Trinity revealed to him or her to fully grasp it. In my view, we should keep in mind a fundamental distinction between the eternal and the temporal, realizing that these two realities interact in ways very much beyond our everyday mode of understanding.