Daily Readings | November 5, 2026
Today’s Readings
- Gospel: Luke 11:47–54; 12:1
- Epistle: St. Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians 2:9–14
- Saints of the Day: Holy Martyrs Galaction and Episteme
Epistle of the Day
Gospel of the Day
Luke 11:47–54; 12:1
The Lord said to the Jews who had come to Him, “Woe to you! for you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. So you are witnesses and consent to the deeds of your fathers; for they killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute, ‘ that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zacharias, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it shall be required of this generation. Woe to you lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.” As He went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press Him hard, and to provoke Him to speak of many things, lying in wait for Him, to catch at something He might say. In the meantime, when so many thousands of the multitude had gathered together that they trod upon one another, He began to say to His disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”
Gospel Reflection
In this Gospel, Jesus warns the religious leaders about honoring God’s prophets outwardly while rejecting the truth they taught. Although they built beautiful tombs for the prophets, they continued the same attitudes of pride and disobedience that had led earlier generations to persecute them. Jesus teaches that true faith is not simply about showing respect for holy people or traditions, but about listening to God’s Word and living according to His teachings.
Jesus also criticizes the religious teachers for making it difficult for others to understand and follow God. Instead of guiding people toward the truth, they allowed their pride and unwillingness to accept Christ to become obstacles. When Jesus confronted them, they responded with anger and tried to find reasons to accuse Him. He then warned His disciples to beware of hypocrisy, reminding them that appearing righteous on the outside means nothing if our hearts are not sincere before God.
The main message of this Gospel is that God calls us to live with sincerity, humility, and obedience to His Word. Jesus reminds us that our faith should be reflected in our actions, not simply in what we say or how religious we appear. We must be willing to accept God’s truth, recognize our own mistakes, and help others grow closer to Him. Through honesty, repentance, and genuine love, we can avoid hypocrisy and live as faithful followers of Christ.
Saint of the Day
Holy Martyrs Galaction and Episteme
Saint Galaction was born in the Syrian city of Emesa to wealthy parents, Kletophon and Leukippe, who had struggled for many years to have a child. One day, a Christian priest and monk named Onuphrius visited their home and spoke to Leukippe about the true God and His mercy. Inspired by his words, she accepted Christianity and was baptized. Soon afterward, she received a vision that she would give birth to a son who would become a faithful follower of Christ.
When Galaction was born, his parents raised him in the Christian faith and provided him with a good education. Although he had the opportunity to live a successful and wealthy life, his heart was drawn toward prayer, solitude, and serving God. At the age of twenty-four, his father arranged for him to marry a young woman named Episteme.
As Galaction spent time with Episteme, he gradually introduced her to Christianity. She accepted Christ, and Galaction secretly baptized her, along with her servant Eutolmius. Together, Galaction and Episteme decided to dedicate their lives entirely to God rather than pursue marriage. They traveled to Mount Publion, where they entered separate monasteries and devoted themselves to fasting, prayer, and spiritual discipline.
After several years, Episteme received a vision in which she and Galaction stood before a radiant King who placed golden crowns upon their heads. This vision foretold the martyrdom they would soon endure for their faith.
When pagan authorities discovered the monasteries, soldiers were sent to arrest the Christians. While many monks and nuns escaped into the mountains, Galaction remained in his cell reading Holy Scripture. When Episteme learned that he had been captured, she asked her Abbess for permission to join him, wishing to remain faithful to Christ alongside him.
The two saints endured terrible suffering but continued praying and glorifying God. Despite being tortured, they refused to abandon their faith and were eventually beheaded. Their fellow Christian Eutolmius secretly buried their bodies and preserved the account of their holy lives and martyrdom.
Through their devotion, courage, and unwavering love for Christ, Saints Galaction and Episteme remind us that true faith requires sacrifice, perseverance, and complete trust in God. Their lives encourage us to place our relationship with Christ above worldly comforts and remain faithful to Him through every difficulty.
