Jean Vanier’s book, “Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus through the Gospel of John,” asks, “What is this life that Jesus is referring to, that we hold onto so desperately and that we must lose?” It is not just physical life but life according to the world’s values, a world as empty of God as it is filled with idols: greed for wealth and power. This “life” also refers to our psychological tendencies: our desires or compulsions for success, to be loved, to be held in esteem, to be acclaimed by those in our group, and to have power and control over others. These passions of life are found in each of us, and they appear in different ways at various stages of our lives:
We can feel the desire to be admired by the group, to become the best spiritual person and control others, or to become the best theologian in our church or group.
We can seek self-glory and self-satisfaction by doing good things.
We can create an intellectual or religious or “good” personage or mask.
These passions for life and the need for recognition can be oriented towards good and holy goals: they may be necessary at the beginning of our journey to God. But if we want to go further on our spiritual journey and grow in humility, love, and openness, we must separate ourselves from them. If we want to live eternal life now and follow the Spirit of God, we must die to our need for recognition, admiration, and power.