Here it seemeth by St Paul’s words that a man may do all good deeds bodily without charity, and that charity is nought else but to love God and his neighbour as himself. How should, then, any wretched caitiff upon earth, whatever he be, have any delight or trust or security in himself for anything he doth or is able to do with all his bodily powers or natural wit, sith all this is nought worth without love and charity to his neighbour? And this charity cannot be gotten by his own working, for it is the free gift of God, sent only into an humble soul, as St Paul saith. Who then dare be so bold as to say: I have Christ, or I am charity? Verily no man can say it securely,or of a certainty, but he that is perfectly and truly humble; other men may trow of themselves, and hope that they be in charity by tokens; but he that is perfectly humble feeleth it, and therefore may say it securely. (John Climacus)

Humility, then, is the precondition for experiencing agape?

Climacus seems to say that agape is a gift of God that can only be received by the well-prepared heart.

In cultivating humility we prepare ourselves for seeds of love. If the seeds can be received, they will be bountiful.

But without humility - without choosing what seems to be self-sacrifice - we cannot know agape.

Break open the hard and stony ground of ego. Overturn the rich soil beneath.