In these passages, Jesus is giving us a gigantic truth, a truth that does not seem to be well understood in our culture. The gigantic truth is that the only way to true joy, to a truly happy human life, is to love others like Jesus loves us. This great truth does not resonate with the “false—self”, which is much more interested in being loved and approved of by others, then in loving others. And believing the lie of the “false—self” that surely I will be truly joyful if only everyone loved me, approved of me, and did everything I want them to do”, keeps the person firmly rooted in the misery of the weed. Not only is this great truth not believed by many, but when it is believed, it can seem impossible to obey. If Jesus had just said “love one another” and left it at that, it might seem doable. But He said “love one another as I have loved you.” So we are commanded to love at the same infinite level at which Jesus loves. This can seem impossible, and thus discouraging.

But we must take heart, and realize that we would not be asked to do something impossible, and remember that all things are possible with God. It turns out that if we can get ourselves, or more accurately our “false—selves”, out of the way, Jesus love can flow through us easily and effortlessly, just like the sap of the vine flows easily into the branches.

Now we will turn to how to get our “false—selves” out of Jesus way, so that He can love through us.

Let us begin with Therese of Lisieux, a saint and a doctor of the church.

I understand clearly
that it is through love alone
that we can become pleasing to God,
and my sole ambition is to acquire it.

And Jesus has deigned to point out to me
that the only way which leads to Love’s divine furnace
is the way of self-surrender.
It is like the confidence of the little child
who sleeps without fear in its father’s arms.
Through the mouth of Solomon
the Holy Spirit has told us:
“Whosoever is a little one,
let him come unto me.
To the one who is little
mercy is granted.”

St. Therese of Lisieux

St. Therese clearly understands Jesus command to love, and this truthful understanding has given rise in her to the holy desire (“ my sole ambition”) to love others, in order to please Jesus.

Therese entered the Carmelite convent at Lisieux, France at the age of 15, and died of tuberculosis there at the age of 24 , in 1897. Therese grew up in a loving Christian family, the youngest of eleven daughters. When her mother died when she was only 5 years old, her older sisters pampered her from then on. Therese was also a very sensitive person by nature. It was a shock, therefore, when Therese entered the convent and was not coddled or pampered or treated in any special way, as she was accustomed. When Therese tried to love her Carmelite sisters, more often than not she experienced irritation, annoyance, and anger, and felt no love at all. She was put off by noises some would make during prayer, by words, some would speak to her and certain behaviors some would exhibit.

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