September 10, 2026
23rd Week in Ordinary Time
First Put On Love
Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up.
1 Corinthians 8:1b

I graduated college freshly schooled and ready to change the world—not in brashness or conceit—but excited to make a difference. While I did so in some areas, the more I learned, the more I had yet to learn. An adage, often attributed to Theodore Roosevelt, rang true: No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care. Ah, the importance of lovingly speaking to—not at—people!

Overarching themes in today’s readings include not only God’s knowledge and love of us—but our knowledge and love in response to others. When tempted to feel ripe with knowledge or indignant over another’s treatment of us, God—from whom all things are and for whom we exist—challenges us to first put on love.

May he, who knows our hearts and minds and loves us completely, guide our every action to align with his. 

Thank you, Lord, that life is best built by your love for us and how we return that love.

- Kathleen Swartz McQuaig

1 Corinthians 8:1b-7, 11-13 ✚ Psalm 139:1-3, 13-14, 23-24 ✚ Luke 6:27-38
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Comments

freeter
September 10, 2026 at 12:32 PM

Amen. :)

Kathleen Swartz McQuaig
September 10, 2026 at 05:39 PM

: )

Salina (not in control)
September 10, 2026 at 09:24 AM

Lessons for me today, “Knowing God and loving God are the roots and reasons of loving others! Knowing others and loving others without knowing and loving God first are the reality and reasons of idolatry!!!” Here is why? *** I need to know and love God for me to love like this without knowing and loving God in Luke 6:27-30, “But here is what I tell you who are listening. Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who call down curses on you. And pray for those who treat you badly. Suppose someone slaps you...
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Kathleen Swartz McQuaig
September 10, 2026 at 05:33 PM

Yes Salina--knowing and loving God--our roots and reasons for loving others!

Salina (not in control)
September 10, 2026 at 09:30 AM

Correction: *** I need to know and love God for me to love others like this in Luke 6:27-30

ADV
September 10, 2026 at 09:24 AM

AMEN!

Kathleen Swartz McQuaig
September 10, 2026 at 05:40 PM

: )

CBR
September 10, 2026 at 08:54 AM

Lord your love is all we need to show the others around us that if we have your love we convey that to others thank you for loving my family and friends and I pray we make you proud I love you Lord in Jesus name I pray Amen Amen Amen

Kathleen Swartz McQuaig
September 10, 2026 at 05:30 PM

Yes Praise God that His love first fills us, then fuels us to love others.

Mike
September 10, 2026 at 08:28 AM

Thank you, Lord, that life is best built by your love for us and how we return that love. Amen

Kathleen Swartz McQuaig
September 10, 2026 at 05:24 PM

His blessings on you and your life, Mike.

Gary
September 10, 2026 at 08:16 AM

"Thank you Lord, that life is best build by your love for us and how we return that love." Thank you for your words today Kathleen. Amen!

Kathleen Swartz McQuaig
September 10, 2026 at 05:22 PM

My honor, Gary. May you always know the blessing of God's love both upon you--and through you to others.

Bill L
September 10, 2026 at 03:54 AM

Ah, Kathleen, one of my most favorite verses in scripture. 'For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you'.

Kathleen Swartz McQuaig
September 10, 2026 at 05:19 PM

Yes, Bill, a great verse--measure for measure. God's blessings!

Stack of books and mug on wooden table. Image by ffphoto | stock.adobe.com
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