Loving is easy. Loving like Jesus? Not so much.

The command is clear. We are to love one another as Jesus loves us. In fact, our salvation depends upon it. As he radically forgave, so must we. As he boldly spoke, so must we. As he was compassionate—even to enemies and the wicked—so must we. As he loved and served the poor, so must we.

Now as I said, by themselves—forgiveness, boldness, compassion, love—they’re relatively achievable; but to embody these the way Jesus does takes grace. Which is the point of this passage from John, the point of the “new commandment” (Jn 13:34). It’s to remind us of our need to beg for the grace to love as we must if we ever want to get to heaven—where only love like Christ’s abides.

The task is simple: Look at yourself and ask whether your love bears any resemblance to the radical love Christ offers. Is it forgiving? Is it open? Does it have limits? No, it has limits? Then you know the work you have yet to do. These are the questions we must ask ourselves if we’re to become better Christians, people called to show a different sort of love, a better love. Like his.

So, try to love like him, no matter what.