Today's readings: Joshua 24, 1-2.15-18; Ephesians 5, 21-32; John 6, 60-69.

The interaction between faith and culture always results in open-ended issues in the life of the Christian community. Faith needs culture, but it must never itself become a culture. There is always that central point about faith that renders it permanently a counter-culture. In that sense, faith is always a destabilising factor.

Today's first reading is one of the most important passages in the bible where Joshua calls upon all Israel to make the great choice, the single greatest choice every individual and society must make in life, because this choice determines the meaning, purpose and point of life itself. The Book of Joshua is the end of one story and the beginning of another. It is the rite of passage our communities are called to go through at this juncture of history.

Karl Rahner, one of the greatest 20th century theologians and a great influence on the Church in Vatican Council II, had, long before the council, envisaged the world becoming increasingly secular, and local churches becoming small intentional communities that would call for more conscientious participation from fewer members. This 'church of the diaspora', as Rahner called it, could more than make up in quality and commitment what it would lose in numbers.

This is precisely the point in John's Gospel today. The dilution of the Gospel message to keep numbers was the last thing Jesus seemed ready to negotiate on.

We have to be honest to God and to ourselves and admit that there is much in our thought and practice that is contrary to Bible teachings. This explains plainly why many cling tightly to the name 'Catholic' while holding a different understanding from those in authority in terms of what is expected of a Catholic.

Pastorally speaking, it's not always easy to come to terms with situations of parents, for example, who do not practise their faith but who demand the sacrament of baptism for their children, without offering any reasonable indication that they intend to practise the faith with their children.

This goes also for the many who opt to celebrate their marriage in Church in spite of their non-belonging to the Church. Sacraments become just part of the social religion, no more, no less. And we do not seem to have any particular problems with this. We prefer to be 'pastorally minded', never refusing anything to anyone, but also never demanding any clear choices. Very unlike what we read today from Joshua and John.

This perpetuates the perception that religion is our culture; it still keeps our churches crowded and it keeps people happy. But discipleship is about making clear choices, growing up, coming of age in the faith, and not reducing faith to pure devotion. This is the Church's major dilemma in a context where religion has always been our culture.

For the past five Sundays we've been reading John's catechesis in chapter six of his Gospel about the living bread. This is a very central catechesis in John, which starts with the sign of the multiplication of bread, offered freely for each and everyone, but which ends today with many of the disciples leaving him.

We can be the people's feeders. And people will continue to come. But we need also to come down to business when it is a question of choices, even if this may not be music to everyone's ears.

Today's Gospel may be considered a first major crisis of the ecclesial community. There are always those who leave and those who stay. We may feel the urge of 'mission', keeping in mind those who have left the Church. But in a context like ours, the emergency where Christian living is concerned seems to point more to those who have stayed.