REFLECTION:

There is a phrase from St. Paul in today’s first reading that I think could easily become our examination of conscience for the day: “Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up.”

Now, Paul is not saying that knowledge is bad. Thank God for knowledge—especially in a school! Imagine if our teachers came into class and said, “I don’t really know anything about this subject, but I love all of you.” That would be very nice…but probably not great for accreditation!

Knowledge matters. Education matters. Learning matters. But Paul is warning us about what can happen when knowledge becomes less about serving others and more about proving ourselves.

Because sometimes knowing something gives us a certain feeling: I know better. I’m right. You’re wrong. I told you so. And Paul says knowledge by itself can “inflate.” It can make the ego bigger without necessarily making the heart bigger. And you can see this everywhere. In school, I can know the answer and make someone else feel stupid because they don’t. At work, I can know the right way to do something and make sure everyone knows that my way is the right way. At home, we can win an argument and lose the person. Even in the Church, we can know every rule, every teaching, every rubric of the Mass—and still forget how to treat people.

That is why Paul gives us the other half: “Love builds up.” I love that image. Pride inflates; love builds.

Something inflated can look big, but there might not be much inside. Think of a balloon: big, impressive…and one little pin and pop! But something that is built takes time. It needs a foundation. It needs patience. Piece by piece, you create something that can last.

So maybe the question today isn't simply, “Am I right?” Maybe the better question is, “Am I building someone up?” Before I correct someone: Will this build them up? Before I send that email or text: Will this build them up? Before I repeat something I heard about somebody: Will this build them up? Before I insist on getting the last word: Am I trying to build this person up—or am I trying to inflate myself?

And this connects beautifully with Jesus in the Gospel: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Jesus isn't asking us simply to know what love is. He asks us to do it.

Whether we are students, teachers, staff, parents, parishioners, or priests, we can know a lot about our faith. We can know Scripture. We can know Catholic teaching. We can know all the right answers. But at the end of the day, perhaps the question Jesus will ask isn't simply, “What did you know?”

Perhaps it will be: “What did you build with what you knew?” Because knowledge may make us smarter. But love builds people up.