It’s hard to recognize how far we are at times from the love Jesus speaks to in today’s gospel reading. It is easy for us to feel connected to the commandment of Jesus to “love one another” when, in reality, all we do is love those who love us. The real test of this commandment comes in loving those who have hurt us, who don’t like us, and we don’t want to be around. The type of love most of us practice is “self-serving and often manipulative,” as Fr. Ron Rolheiser points out. “The love of Jesus takes us past our natural instinct to love those who love us and challenges us to be warm to those who are cold to us, to be kind to those who are cruel to us, to do good to those who hate us, to forgive those who hurt us, to forgive those who won’t forgive us, and to ultimately love and forgive those who are trying to kill us.” That is a measuring stick that challenges all of us, especially me. I know this is the true path of holiness that scripture speaks to, the path his disciples walked, and the one we must walk if we choose to imitate him. It’s the test of true humility, of unconditional love, of loving all who hate us. It’s a high-measuring stick, one most of us consistently fail to reach. Yet, we must remember that what is impossible for us is possible with God. All he is asking us to do is try each day to be that kind of love to others. Each day, we must learn to empty ourselves of “us” so the Lord can fill us with “His” love. Then, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we go forth to give that love away to all we encounter.