Jesus is the source and font of all sources of love. In fact, Jesus is love. He displayed clearly that love on Good Friday when he sacrificed his life for all of us.
However, for whatsoever reason, we most times don’t have a deep desire to love Jesus in return. But sometimes, it’s even difficult for us to accept the love of Jesus into our hearts.
Attaching ourselves to sin is normally the culprit, as the momentary pleasures of sin can entrap us, taking our hearts away from God.
On some other occasions we may reject the love of God because we think we are unworthy of God’s love and fall into feelings of despair.
But the best remedy for this situation is to ask Jesus for the grace to love him.
This is similar to the response of the father whose son was healed by Jesus, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)
Here is a short prayer that asks God for an increase in love, and eliminating anything that might prevent our hearts from fully embracing the source of all love.
O my loving Jesus, my crucified love! I believe and confess that you are the Son of God, and my Savior. From the bottom of my nothingness, I praise and thank thee for the death thou hast suffered, to obtain Tue life of grace for me.
My beloved Redeemer, to you I owe my salvation; through you I have, until now, been preserved from hell; through thee I have received the pardon of my sins: but out of my ungratefullness, have again offended thee, instead of loving you.
Oh Jesus, If in my past life, I have not loved thee enough, I am sincerely sorry; but now I love thee, and I desire nothing in heaven nor on earth, but to love thee with my whole heart. But, without thy help, I can do nothing.
Since, then, you commandest me to love thee, give me the grace to fulfill so sweet and amiable a precept.
Thou hast promised to grant whatsoever we ask of thee. Grant me then the grace to love thee with my whole heart, to love thee continually; that persevering in thy holy love till death, a day would come, when I shall love thee with all my strength in heaven, and never cease to love thee for all eternity.
O Mary, Mother of love, my advocate and refuge; you, who are the most lovely of all creatures, and the most beloved by God; you, who are the most ardent lover of God, and desire nothing but to see him loved by all, through the love which you bear towards Jesus Christ, pray for me, and obtain for me the grace to love him for ever, and with my whole heart. From you I ask this favor; and through you, I hope to receive it. Amen.
