Daily Readings | October 23, 2026
Today’s Readings
- Gospel: Matthew 13:54–58
- Epistle: St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 1:11–19
- Saint of the Day: Holy Apostle James, the Brother of the Lord and First Bishop of Jerusalem
Epistle of the Day
Brethren, I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when He who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son to me, in order that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.
Gospel of the Day
Matthew 13:54–58
At that time, Jesus came to His own country, and taught the people in their synagogue so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And are not His brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all His sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?” And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” And He did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.
Gospel Reflection
In this Gospel reading, Jesus returns to His hometown and begins teaching in the synagogue. The people are amazed by His wisdom and miracles, but instead of believing in Him, they question how someone they have known since childhood could have such power. Because they see Him as an ordinary carpenter’s son, they struggle to recognize that He is the Son of God.
Jesus explains that a prophet is often not respected in his own hometown. The people were so familiar with Him that they allowed their assumptions to blind them to who He truly was. Because of their unbelief, Jesus performed few miracles there. This teaches us that faith requires an open heart and a willingness to trust God, even when we do not fully understand His ways.
The main message is that we should never allow pride, doubt, or our own judgments to prevent us from recognizing God’s presence in our lives. Sometimes we become so focused on what we think we know that we fail to see His blessings. True faith means approaching Christ with humility, trust, and an open heart.
Saint of the Day
Holy Apostle James, the Brother of the Lord and First Bishop of Jerusalem
Saint James was born of the first marriage of Joseph the Betrothed and was blessed by God from his mother’s womb. He lived a life of extraordinary holiness, dedicating himself entirely to prayer, fasting, and serving God. He abstained from wine and strong drink, ate no meat, and never cut his hair. Because of his righteousness, he was known as James the Just and was deeply respected by the people.
After the Lord’s Ascension into Heaven, the Apostles chose Saint James to become the first Bishop of Jerusalem. He devoted himself to guiding the Church and spreading the teachings of Christ. He spent much of his time in the Temple, praying for the people and the salvation of the world. His knees became as hard as stone from constantly kneeling in prayer. Saint James also played an important role in the Council of Jerusalem, teaching that Gentiles who embraced Christianity did not need to follow all the requirements of the Old Law.
Saint James wrote the Epistle that bears his name, teaching Christians that true faith must be accompanied by good works. He reminded believers that every good gift comes from God and encouraged them to live with wisdom, humility, and righteousness. He is also remembered for the Divine Liturgy attributed to him, which remains part of the Orthodox Church’s liturgical tradition.
Around the year 62, during a time of unrest in Judea, the Jewish leaders sought to use Saint James’s respected position to turn the people away from Christ. They brought him to the pinnacle of the Temple and demanded that he speak against Jesus before the gathered crowd.
Instead, Saint James boldly proclaimed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, seated at the right hand of the Almighty Father, and that He would come again in glory to judge the world. His words angered the scribes and Pharisees, who threw him from the Temple. Although he survived the fall, they began stoning him.
Even as he suffered, Saint James knelt and prayed, asking God to forgive those who were killing him. One of the men present, moved by his righteousness, pleaded for them to stop. But another struck Saint James on the head with a club, bringing his earthly life to an end.
Saint James was buried near the Temple, and his holiness continued to be remembered by the faithful. His life remains a powerful example of humility, unwavering faith, prayer, forgiveness, and complete devotion to Christ.
