For June 16
Tuesday of the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time

For some years I taught an undergraduate course in religion to mostly freshman and sophomore students. One of the books I used in the class was called The Question of God. The book was authored by Armand Nicholi and first appeared in 2002. Nicholi’s study later led to a well-received PBS series. My students loved the book and they often told me that it helped them frame many questions they were dealing with in their own lives. The book presents a careful comparison of the thinking and worldviews of Sigmund Freud (the influential founder of modern psychology) and C.S. Lewis (the famous writer and convert to Christianity). Both Freud and Lewis wrestled with fundamental questions about life, death, faith and belief, morality, evil, and human relationships. Freud famously rejected the religious worldview and argued that faith was a fiction—a kind of illusion—created by human beings because of the fear of suffering and death. C.S. Lewis, the distinguished Oxford professor and one of the world’s most famous modern writers proposed that faith in God gives meaning to everything in life. Lewis found more and more in his life that the God of Jesus Christ called him into relationship. When he recognized and accepted this, Lewis reported that his life became much more richly graced and wonderful even when there were significant challenges along the way. For Lewis, faith brought him life. Freud thought that faith could bring real harm to people in their life journeys since it was based on only illusion and psychological wish-fulfillment.

Freud argued strongly against the Christian love command that we encounter in Matthew’s Gospel reading today. Freud thought that the love command and especially Jesus’ teachings about “love of enemies” is highly irrational and even a dangerous idea and practice. Freud argued that it is harmful to love and forgive those who want to harm us. The key in this debate, however, is really all about whether or not God exists and if God is really in relationship with humans and creation. If there is a good and loving God who is in relationship with us and with the creation then it is feasible that loving all persons and loving enemies is possible and necessary. We have been taught since childhood that “love of neighbor” and “love of enemies” is essential to the Christian life. Admittedly, this is hard to do. And Jesus states this as a command.

This passage in Matthew (the sixth anti-thesis in the Sermon on the Mount) begins with Jesus quoting Leviticus 19:18, “Love your neighbor” while leaving out references to “as yourself”. Jesus widens this love command in the definition of “who is my neighbor?” to include enemies. Here Matthew appears to suggest that followers of Jesus should imitate the lavish and generous love of God in creation who pours out grace on both the good and the bad—the deserving and the undeserving. The reference later in the passage to “perfection” in holiness suggests that the model of God’s love for all should be mirrored in the way God’s creatures also love.

Well, who is right? Sigmund Freud or C.S. Lewis? Can Jesus be right here? Should we take his words “love your enemies” seriously? Or, is this merely an ideal to strive toward? Is “love of enemies” an impossible command? For Lewis, actively loving our neighbor is a key to Christian morality and to all of the Christian spiritual life. In this view, Lewis suggests that we have all been forgiven and therefore we must forgive—yes, even our enemies. Someone I know once said in a moment of great personal frustration, “how can I love my enemies? I can barely find a way to love those I live with and those who are close to me”. We all may feel this way at times.

Today’s Gospel presents one of the great truths and one of the deepest challenges in all of Christianity. When we can love in real ways beyond our own circles and love those different from ourselves, and love even those who are enemies, we encounter and move deeper into the very heart and life of God—who desires good and blessing for all in creation. There is true freedom, abiding life, lasting peace, and true joy when we love in the ways that Jesus teaches and commands. Jesus himself models this kind of love which guides us always.
—Francis T. Hannafey SJ

Today’s readings may be found on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops website.