During the time of silence and reflection, many of us experienced a sense of the presence of the Lord in our midst. A sense of happiness and unity in the Word of God. The sharing of God's Word in the power of the Spirit seemed to witness powerfully to the Love of God for each one of us.

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Imagine, if you will, a group of sunflowers in a field, being blown by a gentle but firm breeze, their blossoms upturned and facing expectantly towards the sun.

So it is with us. The Spirit breathes wherever he wills, to bring about a turning or conversion to God.

Conversion is an ongoing experience and so we are constantly prompted by the Holy Spirit to turn to God. As Joshua said to the people as they approached the Promised Land, 'Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow Yahweh will work wonders among you' (Joshua 3:4). Baptism is prefigured in the crossing of the Jordan by the People of God, the gift of the Promised Land being an image of eternal life. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1222).

And so each of us is called to remember the Covenant of the Lord, symbolised by the rainbow in the sky. 'When the bow is in the clouds I shall see it and call to mind the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth, that is, all living things.' Genesis 9:16.

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Imagine now, an earthen jug filled to overflowing with water, trickling at first, it becomes a waterfall and then a waterway teaming with fish. This image calls to mind our baptism, the sacrament common to all Christian churches. The sacrament which sets the indelible seal on our souls. The sacrament which sets us apart as children of God.

The Holy Spirit has marked us with the seal of the Lord for the day of redemption. Baptism indeed is the seal of eternal life. Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptised is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ. No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation. Given once for all, Baptism cannot be repeated. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1274,1272)

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Imagine a table being laid for a huge banquet. 'I come into my garden, my sister, my promised bride, I pick my myrrh and balsam. I eat my honey and my honeycomb. I drink my wine and milk. Eat friends, and drink, drink deep my dearest friends' Song of Songs 5:1. This image calls to mind the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. The means by which the Lord feeds us with his Body and Blood. The Eucharist is a 'sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us'. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1323).

'In all truth I tell you,
if you do not eat of the flesh of the Son of man,
and drink of his blood
you have no life within you.
Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life
And I shall raise that person up on the last day.
For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in that person' (John 6:53)

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We were also reminded of the words of the Lord in his prayer to the Father in the garden 'Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may always see my glory, which you have given me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Father, Upright One, the world has not known you, but I have known you, and these have known that you sent me. I have made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and so that I may be in them.' (John 17:24)

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The theme of the evening was the opening of our hearts to listen to the Spirit of God as he breathed his wisdom on us.

What a banquet we had. Nourished by the Word we were reminded of our Baptism and the indelible seal, which makes us children of God. Note: the seal on our souls is indelible! We were also reminded of the Holy Eucharist, when we are called to share at the Lord's table. The sharing of his Body and Blood, which makes us one with him - a Holy Communion.

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