Through the descent of the Holy Spirit we are invited to fill ourselves with the divine life of God the Father.  The Holy Spirit comes to us as fire to purify our hearts and to fill us with love and truth.  In order to receive the gifts of life and grace that the Holy Spirit has to offer us, we need to be emptied.  The fire of the Holy Spirit comes to burn away the “old self”, a self that is ego-driven, power and position hungry and self consumed.  The old, selfish self is based upon a lie that convinces us that we must put ourselves first, look out for “number one”, obey nothing other than our own interior desires, place ourself above others, consider others as servants of our needs and make sure that we get what we deserve, which is the biggest and the best.  The old self is denied nothing.  This is the lie and it was first told to Adam and Eve in the garden by the serpent.  It is the root of all evil in our world.  Only when this false self is put to death and destroyed are we prepared to receive the new self that baptism bestows upon us.  Emptied of our “love of self” we are then able to receive the gift and grace of the Holy Spirit which gives us true hope:  “And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Rom 5,5)  The “love of self” is replaced by the “love of God” which we receive as a gift and grace.  The new self is our true self that has been “made new” and recreated in love.  The new self knows the truth that we are the children of God and heirs to eternal life.  “Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed.  We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.  Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure.” (1Jn 3,2f)  Living in the newness of life is living in the purity of heart.

     Our new self is destined to be “like him”, like Jesus, who is the perfect image of the Father.  Jesus is the Way and the Way that he shows us is a way of humility.  St. Paul instructs us to, “Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.  Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.  Because of this, God greatly exalted him…” (Phil 2,5ff)  Jesus shows us the way of self-emptying love that is seen in the humility of the servant.  He reveals to us in a very personal way that when we humble ourselves before others, then God can exalt us.  “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one humbles himself will be exalted.” (Lk 14,10)

     Humility matters in the spiritual life.  Humility matters because it was the way of Jesus.  Jesus invites his disciples:  “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.” (Mt 11,29)  Humility is not merely self-deprecation.  Humility is living in the truth and simplicity of who we are meant to be.  It is a love that is expressed in service to others.  The truth is that everything that we have and are comes as a gift and grace from God.  Our life belongs to God and is given for others in service.  Jesus taught his disciples:  “Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.  Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mt 20,26ff)

     Humility comes from a pure heart.  “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God.” (Mt 5,8)  A pure heart is a humble and obedient heart that seeks not its own good but seeks to be pleasing to God and to serve others.  Humility is the visible face of purity of heart.  The humble, contrite and pure heart is filled with the presence of God through his Holy Spirit of love and truth.  Humility prepares the heart to love and the intellect to embrace the truth.  Humble yourself before God and he will lift you up and draw you to himself and you will see the face of God.