Daily Catholic Lectio
Thu, 10 Sep 2026
XXIII Week in Ordinary Time
1 Cor 8:1-7, 11-13. Lk 6:27-38
From Knowing to Loving
Today’s readings teach us that our knowledge must lead us to love. Knowledge and understanding must not make us proud or separate us from others. They must build up the community and make our heart like the heart of Christ. True knowledge is not only information. It is wisdom that unites us with God and with one another.
In the first reading, Paul says, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” The Christians in Corinth had knowledge about idols. They knew that idols were nothing and that there is only one God. Because of this knowledge, some of them ate food offered to idols. But for those who were weak in faith, this became a scandal.
The problem was not only food. The problem was the way knowledge was used. Those who had knowledge began to think that they were greater than others. Their knowledge did not make them sensitive to the weak. It made them self-centred. Therefore, Paul warns them: knowledge without love can wound another person.
This is also true in our world. Today we give much importance to knowledge, education, skill, and professional success. These are good. But knowledge must be used for the good of others. It must not become a reason for pride. It must lead us to compassion. True knowledge turns us towards God and towards our neighbour.
In the Gospel, Jesus asks us to love our enemies. This is the highest form of love. Love is not only a feeling. It is an action that seeks the good of the other. Love includes mercy, generosity, forgiveness, and patience. Love does not ask only, “What is good for me?” It asks, “What is good for the other?”
Jesus says, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” These words are not easy. Jesus knows that this is difficult. That is why He Himself becomes our example. On the cross, He forgives those who crucify Him. In Him, knowledge of God becomes love for humanity.
If our knowledge of God is true, it must change our heart. To know that God is merciful means that we must become merciful. To know that God forgives means that we must learn to forgive. To know that God is generous means that we must become generous. Theology must become mercy. Doctrine must become compassion. Faith must become love.
Knowledge can sometimes divide us. One person knows more, another knows less. One person is strong in faith, another is weak. One person understands, another struggles. But love unites us. Love teaches the strong to care for the weak. Love teaches the learned to become humble. Love teaches the believer to become a brother or sister.
Paul reminds us that when we hurt a weak brother or sister, we sin against Christ. This is a powerful warning. The other person is not outside Christ. The weak person also belongs to Christ. Therefore, our freedom must be guided by love. Our knowledge must be measured by the good it does to others.
Jesus gives us the measure of Christian love: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” The knowledge of God is not completed in study alone. It is completed in experience. We know God by experiencing His mercy. We show that we know God by showing mercy to others.
Love too is an experience. We understand love only when we receive it and practise it. A person may know many things about God, but if that person cannot forgive, cannot bless, cannot give, and cannot show mercy, that knowledge remains incomplete.
Today the Lord invites us to move from knowing to loving. Let our knowledge not puff us up. Let it build up others. Let our learning not make us distant. Let it make us compassionate. Let our faith not become superiority. Let it become service.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
A Yesni Prays Initiative
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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