Readings: John 6:51-58; Ephesians 5: 15-20 What is at the heart of the Christian faith? Is it laws that we must follow without question, is it some eternal life that we seek to have once this life has ended and we are done with all the struggles, or is it something or someone else?

In some ways John is a difficult Gospel, because he repeats himself over and over again. After a while you sort of feel like saying, `Enough already, I get the message`. Yet his message goes to the heart of all we believe, and that heart is Jesus. In today`s reading Jesus is the bread of life, a metaphor that goes much further than any law could. Jesus is the way to life, fullness of life for all and for now, because he points to a transformation that God will make in the lives of those who open themselves to him. This is not legalism or oppressiveness; this is an invitation, to see in Jesus and his community all that God offers.

John is often taken literally by people of our day, and therefore they miss the heart of the message, but within the Gospel there are also examples of people who just don`t get it. We can think of Nicodemus and his confusion about being born again, and the Samaritan woman with her questions at the well, to mention just two. Here we have another example, where the Jews, who are opposed to Jesus, argue amongst themselves about how it is possible that Jesus gives us his flesh to eat. We and many of those listening to Jesus know the answer. The holy meal is not for cannibalistic purposes, but to commune and remember Christ, and to enter into a community which has God at its centre.

This is the danger of making what is ironic, metaphoric and sometimes said in jest, legalistic and controlling. Jesus wanted his way to be a way of life, done as part of who we are and who our community is. John`s Gospel picks this up and has Jesus describe what he can become in our lives if we understand. For those who do, he is the bread of life, the everlasting spring, the light to us and to the world, and the way to fullness of life. He is the window through which we discern what it means to be brothers and sisters together under God`s banner and in God`s spirit.

The thing about John`s Gospel however, is that he is not very big on detail about how we go about this transformation. Here we look at the actions of Jesus himself for inspiration and guidance. We know Jesus to have been loving and compassionate, seeking justice and peace for all. This is the promise of the kingdom of God, of which we are a part. When we engage in love and compassion, social justice and peace making, we find we are at the source of life, and better understand John`s metaphors. When we engage in these activities, and connect to the God who is at the centre, we will be nourished with the bread of life and be able to nourish others, just as Jesus did.