Love Without Exception How God’s Love Transforms the Human Heart
Hello, and welcome—whether you’re a regular listener or joining for the first time. I’m glad you’re here.
My name is Peter Doherty. I’m a Catholic priest and psychologist with a deep interest in the relationship between psychology and spirituality. For a long time, these two fields have viewed each other with suspicion. Yet, in many ways, they belong together. Healthy psychology can strengthen our spiritual lives, and authentic spirituality—grounded in psychological well-being—can bring deeper meaning and resilience to our everyday experience.
In this podcast, I reflect on the Gospel reading for the coming week. It’s designed as a resource for those preparing homilies, as well as for anyone who teaches, studies, or simply wants to engage more deeply with Scripture. If you’re looking to go further, I encourage you to explore earlier episodes. I draw on psychological research, biblical scholarship, and insights from anthropology to help make the Gospel relevant and accessible.
I approach Scripture as a guide for faith and spiritual growth. The biblical authors understood history differently than we do today, and their writings are richly layered—speaking to identity, faith, and the human experience. There is always more wisdom to discover.
If you find this podcast helpful, I invite you to listen in each week. I also welcome your questions and comments—I value the conversation. And if you think others might benefit, please consider sharing it. If you’re listening on YouTube, feel free to leave a review, You can support the podcast by becoming a subscriber, and let me know where you’re tuning in from.
This edition of A Psychologist Looks at Scripture focuses on John 3:16–18, the Gospel that will be read in churches on May 31, 2026.
This reading comes at a meaningful point in the liturgical calendar. We have just moved through three major celebrations—Easter, the Ascension, and Pentecost. Last week, we reflected on the role of the Holy Spirit in our faith life. In that context, this Gospel feels especially fitting.
The Gospel of John was written more than 100 years after the birth of Jesus. It reflects a community looking back on Jesus’ life and the profound impact he had on them. This passage, in many ways, reads like a summary of Jesus’ mission. At its core is a central theme: God’s deep and abiding love for humanity.
Love is a defining theme throughout John’s Gospel. Not only does John emphasize God’s love for us, but he also stresses our call to love one another. In John 13:34–35, Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples.” Loving others becomes the visible sign of our faith.
I invite you to explore earlier episodes of this podcast where I discuss this call to love in more depth—specifically May 11 and 18, 2025, and October 27, 2024.
From a psychological perspective, loving relationships are essential to mental health. Research consistently shows that supportive, caring connections are among the strongest protective factors against depression, anxiety, and stress. Social support reduces the physiological impact of chronic stress and improves overall emotional well-being.
There is also a strong connection between loving others and self-compassion. When we learn to be compassionate toward ourselves, we become more capable of extending love to others. This reduces loneliness, anger, anxiety, and depression.
Dr. Taylor Crouch, a clinical psychologist and professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, studies the relationship between physical and emotional pain. His work highlights an important point: when we are in emotional pain, our ability to love can become impaired.
Healthy, loving relationships provide a sense of safety. They allow us to make mistakes without fear of losing the relationship. Therapeutic approaches such as interpersonal therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) are effective because they help transform struggling relationships into ones that feel secure, connected, and supportive, significantly reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Love is also central to spiritual growth. Across many traditions, love is understood as a transformative force—one that moves us beyond self-centeredness and opens us to a broader, deeper awareness of life. As we grow spiritually, our capacity to love expands. This makes love not only spiritually significant but also psychologically essential. Nurturing stable and supportive relationships leads to better mood, reduced distress, and greater resilience.
Dr. Gary Chapman’s work on The Five Love Languages offers practical insight into how people express and receive love. While often applied to couples, these ideas can extend to many types of relationships. We all have different ways of showing our love. There are many examples out there please find the way that works best for you.
However, the call to love is not always easy. In fact, one of the most challenging teachings comes from Matthew 5:44–45: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” This can feel overwhelming, and many people struggle to even begin. I urge my listeners to check out the edition released on February 16, 2025 that focusses on the challenges of loving those who hurt us.
If that is the case, consider starting with a simple, intentional stance. Choose to care about others. Seek to understand them. This idea is beautifully captured in Mary T. Lathrap’s poem often known as “Walk a Mile in His Moccasins.” Practice forgiveness. Avoid letting grudges or desires for revenge shape your relationships. Remember that every person—including those who hurt you—is loved by God.
Psychology offers a helpful framework here. Self-perception theory, proposed by Daryl Bem in 1967, suggests that we often form our attitudes by observing our own behavior. In other words, acting in a certain way can shape how we feel. This means you can begin by acting with love, even if you do not fully feel it yet. Over time, your feelings may align with your actions. This is not about being inauthentic—it is about intentionally aligning your behavior with your values. You are not controlled by your emotions; you have the capacity to shape them through your actions.
Thank you for joining me.
Next Sunday, June 7, 2026, we will reflect on John 6:51–58, where Jesus speaks about the Eucharist to a group that struggles to understand him. We will explore what this passage teaches us about expressing our faith, both individually and as a community.
New episodes are released every Sunday, focusing on the upcoming Gospel. Special thanks to Heather Patel Doherty and Richard Coulombe for their continued support.
