John Kuhn Bleimaier
Economics has been called the dismal science. The reason is that this field is premised on the recognition that societal resources are finite. It is only a question of how the pie is divided. The sum total of possibilities is absolutely circumscribed. Other sciences hold out the possibility of discoveries which expand the horizon. Economics admonishes that we can alter the distribution of assets but the environment in which we operate is fixed and immutable.
The dismal science of economics has only been successfully challenged by one historic figure. Jesus Christ, as component of the triune Godhead, has shown that He could distribute to the people more than the segments of the finite “pie” with which he was presented. On two particular occasions, when feeding the thousands who followed Him into a desert place, He multiplied the loaves and fishes to satisfy the multitude. The dismal science was confounded, once and for all. Jesus divided the “pie” and the sum total of the slices exceeded the original content of the pie plate.
The feeding of the multitude in the wilderness is a critical lesson for us because it shows that our God who created the physical environment can expand and alter it at His will. He can bless the loaves and fishes, or the quadrants of the pie, and there will be more at the conclusion that there was to start with. It requires a miracle to take on the dismal science of limited possibilities. Jesus is empowered to break out of the mold with blessings to us which exceed the scientifically possible. This is a critical component of our theology of faith, hope and charity.
There is a further important lesson which I wish to posit with regard to the miracle of the loaves and fishes. By definition, the Creator could have fed the multitude “out of whole cloth.” He could have seated the crowd and provided them with nourishment out of thin air. However, Jesus did not do that. He requisitioned the finite basket of loaves and fishes. He prayed and multiplied the food a thousand fold.
It is my proposition that the single basket of loaves and fishes which were at hand in the desert place had been brought along on the initiative of one of the disciples. That apostle, with a practical bent of mind, had provided for a dinner for Jesus and the twelve, for a needful repast after a day of travel and education in the company of the Master.
When Jesus asked for the basket of loaves and fishes He was in effect asking his disciples to surrender their dinner and face the prospect of a hungry night in a deserted place. Note that apparently none of the inner circle protested, except to express incredulity that the mere pittance in the basket would address the needs of the multitude. It was based on this sacrifice of the food brought by the disciples that Jesus then proceeded to feed the multitude to a level of complete satisfaction.
We know that God can create something out of nothing. He created the entire universe on the basis of the big bang of His Word alone. However, let us not forget that in our lives we need to be ready to make personal sacrifices for our sisters and brothers. On the basis of our faith, hope and charity, as demonstrated by our willingness to make personal sacrifices, our Lord can and will multiply the loaves and fishes so as to satisfy the needs of our colleagues and ourselves. Indeed there is much in our natural environment which is inherently dismal and circumscribed with limitation. However, we must never forget that we have an Advocate for whom the dismal science of economics is no obstacle.
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