On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain

FRIDAY 3 JANUARY (Jn 1,29-34)

Both natural and supernatural things can be known in their truest truth, that truth placed in them by the Lord, only by revelation. Since everything was created by God, everything must be revealed in his intimate and hidden truth by God. The Book of Wisdom teaches: “For he gave me sound knowledge of existing things, that I might know the organization of the universe and the force of its elements, The beginning and the end and the midpoint of times, the changes in the sun’s course and the variations of the seasons. Cycles of years, positions of the stars, natures of animals, tempers of beasts, Powers of the winds and thoughts of men, uses of plants and virtues of roots – Such things as are hidden I learned and such as are plain; for Wisdom, the artificer of all, taught me. For in her is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, Manifold, subtle, agile, clear, unstained, certain, Not baneful, loving the good, keen, unhampered, beneficent, kindly, Firm, secure, tranquil, all-powerful, all-seeing, And pervading all spirits, though they be intelligent, pure and very subtle”. This truth must be written in the heart. Truth is the very being of things and men. Truth is God in his eternity. It is also the whole universe in its creation. Truth and being coincide. But man can bring his being, by will, from truth to falsehood. When this happens, the being is in suffering, in death. It is a being from truth for truth.

That is how the sacred text goes on: “For Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion, and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity. For she is an aura of the might of God and a pure effusion of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nought that is sullied enters into her. For she is the refulgence of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of his goodness. And she, who is one, can do all things, and renews everything while herself perduring; And passing into holy souls from age to age, she produces friends of God and prophets. For there is nought God loves, be it not one who dwells with Wisdom. For she is fairer than the sun and surpasses every constellation of the stars. Compared to light, she takes precedence; for that, indeed, night supplants, but wickedness prevails not over Wisdom” (Wis 7,17-30). When a man separates from the eternal source of truth, he also separates himself from the knowledge of truth, which must always be given by the Creator.

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

Jesus is the eternal truth that was made created truth. Very perfect in his eternal truth, most perfect in his created truth, through the work of the Holy Spirit. In Him uncreated truth and created truth are one in his eternal divine person. How might John know this double truth of Christ Jesus? Only by revelation. The Father reveals to him who his Messiah is, his Christ, the truth and grace that come into the world, first announcing the event and then making him see the Holy Spirit descending from heaven and remaining on him, on Christ the Lord. Jesus receives the Spirit. This is why he baptizes in the Holy Spirit. He receives it without measure and gives it without measure. There is no knowledge of the truth except by revelation, manifestation, inspiration, by gift of the Holy Spirit and by illumination. The knowledge that John has of Jesus is true because it is not founded on the human capacities of a man, but on the manifestation and revelation of the Lord God. The Father is the guarantor of the truth of his Son. The whole Gospel according to John is this guarantee on the part of the Father. The Father uses human witnesses, but He is the heavenly and eternal Witness who guarantees for the truth.

Mother of God, Angels, Saints, arrange that every Christian is a true witness of Christ Jesus.