Daily Reading — Monday, October 26, 2026

Monday, October 26, 2026

2 Timothy 2:1-10 · John 15:17-16:2

Second Timothy, chapter two, verses one through ten.

1You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. 8Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

John, chapter fifteen, verse seventeen, through chapter sixteen, verse two.

17These things I command you, that you love one another. 18If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, They hated Me without a cause.' 26But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning. 1These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. 2They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.

Daily Formation Synthesis.

What is the Church teaching your soul today?

Today the Church calls you to stay in the boat. The readings do not hide that the water is rough. Israel is a desert because it forgot to ask where the Lord is. The apostles are hated because they belong to Him. Timothy's teacher sits in chains. Yet every reading says the same thing under the noise: the Father disciplines the child He loves, the powers were disarmed at the Cross, and the voice that shakes the world is the voice that keeps what cannot be shaken. The righteous are not forgotten, even when the crowd does not understand their death. And you have been given what kings and prophets longed to see: the Son who shows you the Father. So do not be afraid of the storm, and do not wait for it to pass before you pray. Wake Him, say the short prayer, and stand in the liturgy that cannot be shaken.

Ascetic posture for today: When fear or resentment rises, say the Jesus Prayer once, slowly, and answer the next insult or worry with silence or one gentle sentence.

From the Orthodox Study Bible

2 Timothy 2:1-10✠ This passage is read on days commemorating a martyr and for the Finding of the Head of John the Baptist (February 24 and May 29).

2 Timothy 2:2Paul establishes a clear chain of witnesses to oral tradition. Christian tradition is for all believers; it is “catholic,” belonging to the whole Church, and needs to be passed down to others unhindered. This stands in clear contrast to the elitism of the major religions of the first-century Roman world, including gnosticism and the various mystery religions.

2 Timothy 2:3-6Faithful ministry requires discipline: obedience, self-denial, and struggle. Our icons (examples) here are the soldier (vv. 3, 4), the athlete (v. 5), and the farmer (v. 6).

2 Timothy 2:8-13Verses 11–13 may be an early baptismal hymn. Ministry is based on union with Christ and immovable loyalty to Him. The end, for the minister and his hearers, is life with Christ in the eternal Kingdom.

John 15:17✠ This passage is read on days commemorating a holy martyr.

John 15:18-25The term world is used in several distinct ways in Scripture. In some cases, it refers to all that is glorious, beautiful, and redeemable in God’s creation (3:16). Other times, it refers to that which is finite in contrast to that which is eternal (11:9; 18:36). In still other instances, as here, it indicates all that is in rebellion against God (see also 8:23). The rebellion of the world against God reveals several things: (1) While union with Christ brings love, truth, and peace, it also brings persecution, because the world hates love and truth (v. 19). (2) The world hated Christ; therefore, it will hate all who try to be Christlike (v. 20). (3) The world hates Christ because it neither knows nor desires to know the Father (vv. 21–24). (4) Hatred for Jesus Christ is irrational and unreasonable, for Christ brings love and mercy; thus, Christ is hated without a cause (v. 25).

John 15:26With respect to God’s working salvation in the world, the Son sends the Holy Spirit from the Father. With respect to the divine nature, the Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father alone. In other words, the Holy Spirit receives His eternal existence only from the Father. In conformity with Christ’s words, the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed confesses belief “in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father.” While the Son is begotten of the Father alone, the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone; the source, the Fountainhead, of both Persons is the Father.