Learning to Understand the Loaves: Can We Help to Build an Economy of Gift and Communion?

1/9/2013

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calls for the application of social and economic ordering principles the Church has long proposed, such as "subsidiarity", within these new contexts.

He reminds us this is a principle of "inalienable human freedom. Subsidiarity is first and foremost a form of assistance to the human person via the autonomy of intermediate bodies. Such assistance is offered when individuals or groups are unable to accomplish something on their own, and it is always designed to achieve their emancipation, because it fosters freedom and participation through assumption of responsibility."

He continues, "Subsidiarity respects personal dignity by recognizing in the person a subject who is always capable of giving something to others. By considering reciprocity as the heart of what it is to be a human being, subsidiarity is the most effective antidote against any form of all-encompassing welfare state." (#57)

The Pope asserts the inextricable link between this principle of subsidiarity and the principle of solidarity which affirms that we really are our brother's (and sister's) keeper.

When this Encyclical was released the early responders attempted to read it through the prism of political categories such as "left" and "right", "liberal" and conservative". The wrangling reminded me of the line in the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy is asked by Belinda "Are you a good witch or a bad witch" to which she responds, "Why I am not a witch at all".

The incessant efforts to characterize the principles offered in this brilliant letter as "for or against capitalism" when it does not even use the word "capitalism", missed the directions offered within it to proceed with a proper approach to development.

This letter, like the miracle of the loaves, invites us into a way of living which begins in, proceeds through and reveals our human vocation to live in relationship. We are by grace and nature called to communion with God and, in Him, to communion with one another. That should change everything, including how we relate to the goods of the earth and how we share those goods with one another.

Pope Benedict XVI calls for an approach to economic development which reflects the primacy of the person, the family, our obligations to one another and our special call to love the poor. He points to another way, the way of gift, love, participation and communion.

He helps to unpack the meaning of the Gospel story, inviting us to build an economy of gift and communion. The Gospel account is not only about a miracle which occurred in that "lonely place", but about the miracle which can occur in every "lonely place", including the place in time in which we now find ourselves.

In the synoptic accounts Jesus instructs the disciples "You give them something to eat" (See, Matt. 14, Mark 6, and Luke 9), the invitation to move beyond a mentality of economism and scarcity into a new way of living, with and for one another.

When they gave what they had, placing it in the hands of the Master, He multiplied and mediated their gift and the economy of gift and communion was manifested.

Not only were all fed but "the fragments" left over filled twelve baskets. The number twelve reflects the twelve tribes of Israel and the Twelve Apostles, the living stones of the New Israel, the Church. Multiplying the two we come to 144,000. It is the number which symbolically stands for the fullness of the Church redeemed in Christ. (See, Rev. 7 and 14)

Like much numerology in the sacred scripture, it has meaning as well. There will always be enough. That is we recover our true humanism and learn to live together in love.

St. John the theologian uses the little boy to demonstrate the condition of the heart required to enter into the meaning of the loaves. (John 6) As a child, he held nothing back. He simply gave what he had. Will we? Gather the Fragments, live the miracle, build an economy of gift and communion.

Perhaps, if Christians try to understand the Loaves, we will also be able to help structure an Economy of Gift and Communion.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: economy of communion, economics, catholic Social Thought, capitalism, free market, feeding of the five thousand, solidarity, subsidiarity, economism, charity in truth, Pope Benedict XVI, Deacon Keith Fournier

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1 - 4 of 4 Comments

Gerald Bertel
4 months ago
First we must learn to forgive ourselves and others before we can really follow the gospels and love our neighbors. We hate abortion, and I think, we have proven over the last 40 years that we hate political parties, women who have abortions and the doctors who perform these ghastly acts. Jesus loved everyone including the sinners and taught them the truth and to sin no more. That is why he came to earth. Today, we love only those people who agree with us and yet we expect to change their minds of those who don't. I have been on the 18 hour bus trip from St. Louis to Washington D C about 20 times and I have witnessed a dramtic change in the attitudes of some of these well meaning marchers. When I hear the gospels about love your neighbor as your self and hear the Amens I wonder if we really know what we are saying. We need to understand our goals and understand that we can not acheive these goals with hate in our hearts.
Emma
4 months ago
I can't speak with any authority on global economics. My knowledge is miniscule at best. But, the one shining example that comes to mind as I consider the "give what you have " and the story of the loaves, is the Kahn Academy. One man, Sal Kahn, in an effort to help his young niece and nephew with their algebra posted some tutorials on you tube. This small effort has grown into an online school that circles the globe while at the same time placing responsibility for the learning experience into the hands of the student and parents. This man, an engineer, not a professional educator is changing the lives of thousands of people worldwide when his initial intent was only to help his own young family members! This school is a godsend and takes students from kindergarten through college prep and SAT Prep covering not only math, sciences and history, but also the arts, computer sciences and beyond. All at no charge. Check it out : kahnacademy.org :)
Tom McGuire
4 months ago
I could not agree with you more about the interpretation of the two gospel accounts. However, Jesus did not rail against paganism and the Roman government. Instead He told stories and parales that touched people's hearts and called them to conversion.
Larry
4 months ago
Christianity is not an economic system and can't espose a way to run any economy. if that were true, lets look at all the different economic systems it supported and aligned with in the past centuries (kings, rulers, families rule, church rule, etc.). The church may have things to say about how econmic systems are run, who they are helping and who they are ignoring. The concept that you can't do anything that hurts the most vulnerable or the poor can't really address very well any economic systems humans can think of. No matter what we do, we favor some things and people and disadvantage others and other things to some degree, even in families, societies, etc. Even the church has done this and does this for its vision and goals. The church does change when it recognizes wrong it or its members have done (though it can be condemned for all the time it did little or nothing) and for helping us learn to forgive. (Change after Luther took a stand, finally responding to the recent sex scandals, change from some of the attitudes about modernism in Vatican I vs. what we got from Vatican II)

Capitalism or Freem Market Economics has helped more people get out of poverty in shorter times than any other systems we've used. It does not take a particular view of the poor or the rich but gives the structure for material success. There more to being successful than material success but economics is talking about this world and material gain - sufficient to live, more than sufficient to survive negative things that happen and live more a lifestyle you want, more wealth to live as you want, provide protection for familiy and those you are interested in and help others who need help.

Free market economics can be run in many ways (USA, China to some degree, Japan, Chile, etc.) and they don't all work the same but work similarly. One problem with the term 'poor' is it has become a comparative term rather than a term to describe a level of poverty. In the USA, many we call 'poor' are poor in comparison to those who have great wealth but not poor compared to other poor from around the world in how they live, what they can purchase for themselves and family, what they can do, opportunities they have, how they are protected and helped by government and organizations, etc. One reason so many people want to come to the USA is not only the opportunites you have here but because of the support system we have to live and try and succeed (bankruptsy laws give us another bite at the apple of success)

We are to focus on helping the poor but who is poor and what responsibilities do the poor in economic systems have to do for themselves (God helps those who help themselves - the parable of the king who left and gave 3 men who worked for him to increase what he gave them when he left - 2 increased what they got and 1 burried it so he would lose nothing) We ask for help but we also have to lean how things work in a society and do the work so they work for us, our famiies and others we are concerned with. The community spirit comes from the concern and care we have for each other, not in creating an economic system so we all can live

The first Christians tried to live in a community sharing all but did not continue when they realized the end of the world or ages would not come soon - we're all still here, aren't we? Some of the first settlers in the USA lived in community sharing everything but that attempt failed in producing enough for them all - then they changed and gave each familiy an investment in land and animals to care for them and produce for themselves and for others - private ownership - and worked out a system of sharing AFTER each was able to do what they could.

Adam Smith focused on 'every man for himself' his own interests to have them be successful. John Nash (American economist) later added "every man for him/herself, for his/her own interests AND considering the interests of others involved to be successful (a more cooperative approach) - focus on self interests (not selfsihness, though it can turn into that) but also with an eye to the interests of others. I am my brothers keeper but first I am my keeper since mine is the life I am responsible for and will be judged on in the final judgment (what does it profit a man if he gains the world but looses his soul). Even in business doing for others can be good business but the goal of business is to survive and thrive (as is the goal of any organism).

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