Reading these days the Catechism of the Catholic ChurchIn the points that refer to the Holy Spirit, in preparation for the Solemnity of Pentecost, I found, in point 687, a consideration that struck me as very beautiful. The Catechism says, citing the Gospel of St. John, that "the Spirit of truth that "reveals" Christ to us "does not speak of Himself" (Jn 16:13).".
In fact, the Holy Spirit is hidden, "does not talk about itself". It is such a discreet concealment that it reveals to us what God is like, in his intimacy. It reveals to us - we could say - the unfathomable humility of God.
The Spirit makes us know God's innermost being (cf. 1 Cor 2:11): God Love; He reveals Christ to us, who is the manifestation of God's Love, but does not reveal Himself. "Does not talk about himself". It is the humility of God (Jn 16:13).
That "humility"that "concealment"He reverses it on the people who allow themselves to be invaded by his presence. It reverses it, above all, in Jesus himself, who is ".... humble of heart!"(Mt 11:29). He reverses it in Mary, who confesses in all truth that God "..." (Mt 11:29).has set his eyes on the humility of his handmaid" (Lk 1:48).
That true humility that makes us experience that our merits are gifts from God leads us to love our brothers and sisters; it is a condition for truly loving as God loves us. Without this basic humility we cannot love.
Without that humility we become more and more full of ourselves. We swell in our pride and are incapable of loving and serving.
But what must I do so that the Holy Spirit may dwell in me; how can I be sure that he dwells with me if his presence is so gentle and hidden? St. John the Evangelist tells us that the touchstone, the jasper useful for detecting counterfeit coins, as did the ancient merchants and jewelers, is faith in Christ (cf. Jn 14:17): to believe in Christ; to love Christ; to keep his commandment.
The Holy Spirit loves to hide Himself and in fact hides Himself from the world that "cannot receive him, because he does not see him or know him"(Jn 14:17), while those who truly believe in Christ and follow him know him, know the Spirit because he dwells in them.
The coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, on which the Holy Trinity is fully revealed, on which the Kingdom announced by Christ is opened to humanity, effectively reaches all those who believe in Him in the humility of our flesh and in faith. With his coming, the Holy Spirit makes us enter into his Kingdom, already possessed but not yet fully manifested.
The door of entry is faith in Christ and humility. The Holy Spirit, through whom we find true faith, makes us exclaim: "I am the one who has faith in Christ.Abba, Father!"(Rm 8,15) and "Jesus is Lord!" (1 Cor 12:3).
