Jesus’ relatively short human life…both modelled and consecrated the eye of the needle that each one of us must personally pass through in order to accomplish “the one thing necessary” here, according to his teaching: to die to self….Our only truly essential human task here, Jesus teaches, is to grow beyond the survival instincts of the animal brain and egoic operating system into kenotic joy and generosity of full human personhood. His mission was to show us how to do this.
The Wisdom Jesus by Cynthia Bourgeault, p.106.