Readings For Weddings & Funerals

This page details sample readings for different types of liturgies.

You are free to choose other readings from the bible for your ceremony.

Weddings

Song of Solomon 8:6-7

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm;
for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame.
Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can floods drown it.
If one offered for love
all the wealth of his house,
it would be utterly scorned.

Ruth 1:16-17

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

Romans 12:9-16

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another.

1 John 4:7-12

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.

1 Corinthians 13:4-13

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Colossians 3:12-17

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Song of Solomon 2:10-13

My beloved speaks and says to me:
“Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
and come away,for behold, the winter is past;
the rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of singing has come,
and the voice of the turtledove
is heard in our land.
The fig tree ripens its figs,
and the vines are in blossom;
they give forth fragrance.
Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
and come away.”

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39
Brothers and sisters:
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He did not spare his own Son
but handed him over for us all,
will he not also give us everything else along with him?
Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones?
It is God who acquits us.
Who will condemn?
It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised,
who also is at the right hand of God,
who indeed intercedes for us.
What will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?
No, in all these things, we conquer overwhelmingly
through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities,
nor present things, nor future things,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The word of the Lord.

2. A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 12:1-2, 9-18
Iurge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.
Do not conform yourselves to this age
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect.
Let love be sincere;
hate what is evil,
hold on to what is good;
love one another with mutual affection;
anticipate one another in showing honor.
Do not grow slack in zeal,
be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope,
endure in affliction,
persevere in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the holy ones,
exercise hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you,
bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice,
weep with those who weep.
Have the same regard for one another;
do not be haughty but associate with the lowly;
do not be wise in your own estimation.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil;
be concerned for what is noble in the sight of all.
If possible, on your part, live at peace with all.
The word of the Lord.

2. A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 12:1-2, 9-13
Iurge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.
Do not conform yourselves to this age
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect.
Let love be sincere;
hate what is evil,
hold on to what is good;
love one another with mutual affection;
anticipate one another in showing honor.
Do not grow slack in zeal,
be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope,
endure in affliction,
persevere in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the holy ones,
exercise hospitality.
The word of the Lord.

3. A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 15:1b-3a, 5-7, 13
Brothers and sisters:
We ought to put up with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves;
let each of us please our neighbor for the good,
for building up.
For Christ did not please himself.
May the God of endurance and encouragement
grant you to think in harmony with one another,
in keeping with Christ Jesus,
that with one accord you may with one voice
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you,
for the glory of God.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The word of the Lord.

4. A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20
Brothers and sisters:
The body is not for immorality, but for the Lord,
and the Lord is for the body;
God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power.
Do you now know that your bodies are members of Christ?
Whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
Avoid immorality.
Every other sin a person commits is outside the body,
but the immoral person sins against his own body.
Do you not know that your body
is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,
whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
For you have been purchased at a price.
Therefore glorify God in your body.
The word of the Lord.

5. A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians 12:31 – 13:8a
Brothers and sisters:
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.
But I shall show you a still more excellent way.
If I speak in human and angelic tongues
but do not have love,
I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.
And if I have the gift of prophecy
and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;
if I have all faith so as to move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give away everything I own,
and if I hand my body over so that I may boast
but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, is not pompous,
it is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice
over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things,
Hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.
The word of the Lord.

6. A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians 5:2a, 21-33
Brothers and sisters:
Live in love, as Christ loved us
and handed himself over for us.
Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.
For the husband is head of his wife
just as Christ is head of the Church,
he himself the savior of the body.
As the Church is subordinate to Christ,
So wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ loved the Church
and handed himself over for her sanctify her,
cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
that he might present to himself the Church in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish.
So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no one hates his own flesh
but rather nourishes and cherishes it,
even as Christ does the Church,
because we are members of his Body.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
This is a great mystery,
but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church.
In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself,
and the wife should respect her husband.
The word of the Lord.

7. A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians 5:2a, 25-32
Brothers and sisters:
Live in love, as Christ loved us
and handed himself over for us.
Husbands, love your wives,
Even as Christ loved the Church
and handed himself over for her to sanctify her,
cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
that he might present to himself the Church in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish.
So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no one hates his own flesh
but rather nourishes and cherishes it
even as Christ does the Church,
because we are members of his Body.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
This is a great mystery,
but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church.
The word of the Lord.

8. A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians 4:4-9
Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always.
I shall say it again: rejoice!
Your kindness should be known to all.
The Lord is near.
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
Keep on doing what you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me.
Then the God of peace will be with you.
The word of the Lord.

1. Gospel Acclamation 1 In 4:12 Alleluia, alleluia!
As long as we love one another
God will live in us,
and his love will be complete in us.
Alleluia!

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 2:1-11
There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited. When they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the wedding was all finished, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ Jesus said, ‘Woman why turn to me? My hour has not come yet.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ There were six stone water jars standing there, meant for the ablutions that are customary among the Jews: each could hold twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water,’ and they filled them to the brim. ‘Draw some out now,’ he told them, ‘and take it to the steward.’ They did this; the steward tasted the water, and it had turned into wine. Having no idea where it came from – only the servants who had drawn the water knew – the steward called the bridegroom and said, ‘People generally serve the best wine first, and keep the cheaper sort till the guests have had plenty to drink, but you have kept the best wine till now.’
This was the first of the signs given by Jesus: it was given at Cana in Galilee. He let his glory be seen, and his disciples believed in him.                       The Gospel of the Lord.                              

2. Gospel Acclamation 1 Jn 4:8. 11 Alleluia, alleluia!
God is love;
let us love one another
as God has loved us.
Alleluia!
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 15:12-16
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘This is my commandment:
love one another,
as I have loved you.
A man can have no greater love
than to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends,
if you do what I command you.
I shall not call you servants anymore, because a servant does not know
his master’s business;
I call you friends,
because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father. You did not choose me,
no, I chose you;
and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit,
fruit that will last;
and then the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name.’         The Gospel of the Lord.

3. Gospel Acclamation 1 Jn 4:7 Alleluia, alleluia!
Everyone who loves
is begotten by God,
and knows God.
Alleluia! A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 10:6-9
Jesus said, ‘From the beginning of creation God made them male and female. This is why a man must leave father and mother, and the two become one body. They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.’                           This is the Gospel of the Lord. 4. Gospel Acclamation 1 Jn 4:12 Alleluia, alleluia!
As long as we love one another
God will live in us.
and his love will be complete in us.
Alleluia!

4 A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth but if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.
‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.’                                                             The Gospel of the Lord.

5. Gospel Acclamation I Jn4:8.11 Alleluia, alleluia!
God is love; let us love one another
as God has loved us.
Alleluia!
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 22:35-40
A lawyer, to disconcert Jesus, put a question, ‘Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?’
Jesus said, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the
Prophets also.’                                                                                                         The Gospel of the Lord.

6. Gospel Acclamation I Jn 4:8.11 Alleluia, alleluia!
God is love;
let us love one another
as God has loved us.
Alleluia!

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 5:1-12
Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught
them:
‘How happy are the poor in spirit;
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle:
they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn:
they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:
they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart:
they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers:
they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for
your reward will be great in heaven’ 

The Gospel of the Lord.

7. Gospel Acclamation 1 Jn 4:16 AlIeluia, alIeluia!
Anyone who lives in love
lives in God,
and God lives in him.
Alleluia!

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 15:9-12
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘As the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you. Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments
you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
I have told you this
so that my own joy may be in you
and your joy be complete.
This is my commandment:
love one another,
as I loved you.’                                                                                                                               
The Gospel of the Lord.

Funeral

The First Reading is usually from the Old Testament and the Second Reading is from the New Testament

A reading from the book of Ruth

But Ruth said, ‘Do not press me to leave you and to stop going with you,
For wherever you go, I shall go,
wherever you live, I shall live
Your people will be my people,
And your God will be my God.
Where you die, I shall die,
And there I shall be buried.

The Word of the Lord.

A reading from the Book of Daniel

“At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book.

Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever.

The wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, And those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.

The Word of the Lord.

A reading from the book of Maccabees

He then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin.

The Word of the Lord.

A reading from the book of Wisdom

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to break down and a time to build up a time to weep and a time to laugh
a time to mourn and a time to dance
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing
a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
God has made everything beautiful in its time.

The Word of the Lord.

A reading from the book of Wisdom

The souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God,
No torment shall ever touch them.
In the eyes of the unwise, they did appear to die
Their going looked like a disaster,
Their leaving us, like a tragedy;
but they are in peace.
If they experienced punishment as men see it,
Their hope was rich with immortality;
slight was their affliction, great will their blessing be.
God has put them to the test and proved them worthy to be with him;
he has tested them like gold in a furnace, and accepted them as a holocaust.
They who trust in him will understand the truth,
Those who are faithful will live with him in love;
For grace and mercy await those he has chosen.

The Word of the Lord.

A reading from the book of Ruth

But Ruth said, ‘Do not press me to leave you and to stop going with you,

For wherever you go, I shall go,

wherever you live, I shall live

Your people will be my people,

And your God will be my God.

Where you die, I shall die,

And there I shall be buried.

The Word of the Lord.

Second Reading

A reading from the book of the Apocalypse 21:1–7

There will be no more death. I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne, ‘You see this city? Here God lives among men. He will make his home among them; they shall be his people, and he will be their God; his name is God-with-them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness. The world of the past has gone.’ Then the One sitting on the throne spoke: ‘Now I am making the whole of creation new,’ he said. ‘I will give water from the well of life free to anybody who is thirsty; it is the rightful inheritance of the one who proves victorious; and I will be his God and he a son to me.’

The Word of the Lord.

Second Reading

A reading from the book of the Apocalypse

I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne, ‘You see this city? Here God lives among men. He will make his home among them; they shall be his people, and he will be their God; his name is God-with-them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness. The world of the past has gone.’

Then the One sitting on the throne spoke: ‘Now I am making the whole creation new,’ he said. ‘I will give water from the well of life free to anybody who is thirsty; it is the rightful inheritance of the one who proves victorious; and I will be his God and he a son to me.’

The Word of the Lord.

Second Reading

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans (6:3-9)

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.

The Word of the Lord.

Second Reading

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans (8:14-23)

All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ — if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

The Word of the Lord.

Second Reading

A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 5:1. 6–10

We have an everlasting home in heavens. We know that when the tent that we live in on earth is folded up, there is a house built by God for us, an everlasting home not made by human hands, in the heavens. We are always full of confidence, then, when we remember that to live in the body means to be exiled from the Lord, going as we do by faith and not by sight ¬— we are full of confidence, I say, and actually want to be exiled from the body and make our home with the Lord. Whether we are living in the body or exiled from it, we are intent on pleasing him. For all the truth about us will be brought out in the law court of Christ, and each of us will get what he deserves for the things he did in the body, good or bad.

Second Reading

A reading from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians (4:13–5:1)

We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

 The Word of the Lord.

Second Reading

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans

If it is certain that death reigned over everyone as the consequence of one man’s fall, it is even more certain that one man, Jesus Christ, will cause everyone to reign in life who receives the free gift that he does not deserve, of being made righteous. Again, as one man’s fall brought condemnation on everyone, so the good act of one man brings everyone life and makes them justified. As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience

will be made righteous. When law came, it was to multiply the opportunities for falling, but however great the number of sins committed, grace was even greater; and so, just as sin reigned wherever there was death, so grace will reign to bring eternal life thanks to the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 62)

(R) For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord, my God.

(1)     O God, you are my God for you I long;

For you my soul is thirsting,

My body pines for you

like a dry, weary land without water. (R)

(2)     So I gaze on you in the sanctuary

to see your strength and your glory.

For your love is better than life,

my lips will speak your praise.  (R)

(3)     So I will bless you all my life,

In your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,

My mouth shall praise you with Joy. (R)

(4)     You have been my help;

In the shadow of my wings I rejoice.

My soul clings to you;

Your right hand holds me fast.  (R)

Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 121)

(R)  I rejoiced when I heard them say:

       ‘ Let us go to God’s house.’

(R) Let us go to God’s house, rejoicing.

(1)     I rejoiced when I heard them say:

‘Let us go to God’s house.’

And now our feet are standing

within your gates, O Jerusalem.  (R)

(2)     Jerusalem is built as a city

strongly compact.

It is there that the tribes go up,

the tribes of the Lord.  (R)

(3)     For Israel’s law it is,

there to praise the Lord’s name.

There were set on the thrones of judgment

of the house of David.  (R)

(4)     For the peace of Jerusalem pray:

‘Peace be to your homes!

May peace reign in your walls,

in your palaces, peace!’  (R)

(5)     For love of your brethren and friends

I say: ‘Peace upon you!’

For love of the house of the Lord

I will ask for your Good.  (R)

First Reading

A reading from the Book of Daniel

“At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book.

Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever.

The wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, And those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.

The Word of the Lord.

First Reading

A reading from the book of Maccabees

He then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin.

The Word of the Lord.

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans

Second Reading

Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly.

Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.

But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath.

Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

The Word of the Lord.

Second Reading

A READING FROM THE LETTER OF ST. PAUL TO THE ROMANS

If God is for us, who can be against us? Since he did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for the sake of all of us, then can we not expect that with him he will freely give us all his gifts? Who can bring any accusation against those that God has chosen? When God grants saving justice who can condemn? Are we not sure that it is Christ Jesus, who died — yes and more, who was raised from the dead and is at God’s right hand — and who is adding his plea for us? Can anything cut us off from the love of Christ — can hardships or distress, or persecution, or lack of food and clothing, or threats or violence; No; we come through all these things triumphantly victorious, by the power of him who loved us. For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nothing already in existence and nothing still to come, nor any power, nor the heights nor the depths, nor any created thing whatever, will be able to come between us and the love of God, known to us in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Word of the Lord.

Second Reading

A reading from the letter of St Paul to Timothy

Before God and before Christ Jesus who is to be judge of the living and the dead, I charge you, in the name of his appearing and of his kingdom: proclaim the message and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, give encouragement — but do all with patience and with care to instruct. But you must keep steady all the time; put up with suffering; do the work of preaching the gospel; fulfil the service asked of you. As for me, my life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to depart. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith All there is to come for me now is the crown of uprightness which the Lord, the upright judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his appearing.

 THE WORD OF THE LORD

Second Reading

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans

Thus, condemnation will never come to those who are in Christ Jesus,

 because the law of the Spirit which gives life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.

 What the Law could not do because of the weakness of human nature, God did, sending his own Son in the same human nature as any sinner to be a sacrifice for sin, and condemning sin in that human nature.

This was so that the Law’s requirements might be fully satisfied in us as we direct our lives not by our natural inclinations but by the Spirit.

Those who are living by their natural inclinations have their minds on the things human nature desires; those who live in the Spirit have their minds on spiritual things.

And human nature has nothing to look forward to but death, while the Spirit looks forward to life and peace, because the outlook of disordered human nature is opposed to God, since it does not submit to God’s Law, and indeed it cannot,  and those who live by their natural inclinations can never be pleasing to God.

 You, however, live not by your natural inclinations, but by the Spirit, since the Spirit of God has made a home in you. Indeed, anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

 But when Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin but the spirit is alive because you have been justified;  and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead has made his home in you, then he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm.

Response: The Lord is my shepherd there is nothing I shall want.

The Lord is my shepherd;

there is nothing I shall want.

Fresh and green are the pastures

where he gives me repose.

Near restful waters he leads me,

to revive my drooping spirit. Response

He guides me along the right path;

he is true to his name.

If I should walk in the valley of darkness

no evil would I fear.

You are there with your crook and your staff; with these you give me comfort. Response

You have prepared a banquet for me

in the sight of my foes.

My head you have anointed with oil;

my cup is overflowing. Response

Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me

all the days of my life.

In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell

for ever and ever. Response

First Reading

A reading from the Book of Lamentations.

My soul is shut out of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is;

so I say, “Gone is my glory, and all that I had hoped for from the LORD.”

The thought of my affliction and my homelessness is wormwood and gall!

My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me.

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end;  they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

 The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.

It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

 I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit;

 you heard my plea, “Do not close your ear to my cry for help, but give me relief!”

 You came near when I called on you; you said, “Do not fear!”

The Word of the Lord.

First Reading

A reading from the book of Wisdom.

For everything there is a season,  and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to break down and a time to build up a time to weep and a time to laugh

a time to mourn and a time to dance 

a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing

a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

God has made everything beautiful in its time.

The Word of the Lord.

 First Reading

A reading from the book of Wisdom

The souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God,

No torment shall ever touch them.

In the eyes of the unwise, they did appear to die 

Their going looked like a disaster,

Their leaving us, like a tragedy;

but they are in peace.

If they experienced punishment as men see it,

Their hope was rich with immortality;

slight was their affliction, great will their blessing be.

God has put them to the test and proved them worthy to be with him;

he has tested them like gold in a furnace, and accepted them as a holocaust.

They who trust in him will understand the truth,

Those who are faithful will live with him in love;

For grace and mercy await those he has chosen.

The Word of the Lord.

First Reading

A reading from the prophet Isaiah.

On this mountain,

the Lord of hosts will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich food.

On this mountain he will remove the mourning veil covering all peoples, and the shroud enwrapping all nations. 

He will destroy death for ever.  The Lord will wipe away the tears from every cheek he will take away his people’s shame everywhere on earth, for the Lord has said so.

That day, it will be said:

See, this is our God in whom we hoped for salvation;

The Lord is the one in whom we hoped.

We exult and we rejoice that he has saved us.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm.

Response: The Lord is my shepherd there is nothing I shall want.

The Lord is my shepherd;

there is nothing I shall want.

Fresh and green are the pastures

where he gives me repose.

Near restful waters he leads me,

to revive my drooping spirit. Response

He guides me along the right path;

he is true to his name.

If I should walk in the valley of darkness

no evil would I fear.

You are there with your crook and your staff; with these you give me comfort. Response

You have prepared a banquet for me

in the sight of my foes.

My head you have anointed with oil;

my cup is overflowing. Response

Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me

all the days of my life.

In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell

for ever and ever. Response

Responsorial Psalm                      Ps 102

Responsorial Psalm

 Response      The Lord is compassion and love.

The Lord is compassion and love,

slow to anger and rich in mercy.

He does not treat us according to our sins

nor repay us according to our faults. Response

As a father has compassion on his sons,

the Lord has pity on those who fear him;

for he knows of what we are made,

he remembers that we are dust. Response

But the love of the Lord is everlasting

upon those who hold him in fear;

his justice reaches out to children’s children

when they keep his covenant in truth. Response

Second Reading

A reading from the letter to the Ephesians

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

He destined us in love to be his children through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us. For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ  as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

The Word of the Lord

Second Reading

A Reading from the letter to Timothy

I thank God whom I serve with a clear conscience, as did my fathers, when I remember you constantly in my prayers. As I remember your tears, I long night and day to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith. Hence I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control.

Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

The word of the Lord.

Second Reading

A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians.

I will tell you something that has been secret: that we are not all going to die, but we shall all be changed.  This will be instantaneous, in the twinkling of an eye, when the last trumpet sounds.  It will sound, and the dead will be raised, – and when this mortal nature has put on immortality, then the words of scripture come true: Death is swallowed up in victory.  Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?  Now the sting of death is sin, and sin gets its power from the Law.  So let us thank God for giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The word of the Lord.

A reading from the letter to the Phillipians

1 Thessalonians 5: 1-6, 9-11 (432)

Second Reading

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians:

Concerning times and seasons, brothers, you have no need for anything

to be written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of

the Lord will come like a thief at night. When people are saying, “Peace

and security,” then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labor pains

upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are

not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief. For all of

you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of

the night or of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do,

but let us stay alert and sober…. For God did not destine us for wrath,

but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us,

so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him.

Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you

do.

First Reading

Isaiah

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,

and formed you, O Israel:

Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name: you are mine.

When you pass through the water,

I will be with you;

In the rivers you shall not drown.

When you walk through fire,

you shall not be burned;

the flames shall not consume you.

For I am the Lord, your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your savior.

First Reading

Isaiah

See, I am creating new heavens

and a new earth;

The former things shall not be remembered

nor come to mind.

Instead, shout for joy and be glad forever

in what I am creating.

Indeed, I am creating Jerusalem to be a joy

and its people to be a delight;

I will rejoice in Jerusalem

and exult in my people.

No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there,

or the sound of crying.

Second Reading

Rev. 21:6; 22:13

Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

The Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary,

his understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the faint,

and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Even youths shall faint and be weary,

and young men shall fall exhausted;

but they who wait for the lord shall renew their strength,

they shall mount up with wings like eagles,

they shall run and not be wary,

they shall walk and not faint.

Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith;  that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,  that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

The word of the Lord.

Second Reading

A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have no love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude.  Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

Love never ends.

The word of the Lord.

Second Reading

A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians

Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep.  Death, came through one man and in the same way the resurrection of the dead has come through one man.  Just as all men die in Adam, so all men will be brought to life in Christ; but all of them in their proper order: Christ as the first-fruits and then, after the coming of Christ, those who belong to him.

The word of the Lord.

Second Reading

A Reading from the letter to the Ephesians.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

For people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.  If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

The word of the Lord.

Second Reading

A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians

For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Everything exposed by the light becomes visible,  for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

The word of the Lord.

Second Reading

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians

 We want you to be quite certain, about those who have died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like the other people who have no hope.  We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus: God will bring them with him.  We can tell you this from the Lord’s own teaching, that any of us who are left alive until the Lord’s coming will not have any advantage over those who have died.  At the trumpet of God, the voice of the archangel will call out the command and the Lord himself will come down from heaven; those who have died in Christ will be the first to rise, and then those of us who are still alive will be taken up in the clouds, together with them, to meet the Lord in the air.  So we shall stay with the Lord for ever.  With such thoughts as these you should comfort one another.

The word of the Lord.

Second Reading

A Reading from the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians.

That is why I, having once heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus, and your love for all God’s holy people, have never failed to thank God for you and to remember you in my prayers.

May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him.

May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, how rich is the glory of the heritage he offers among his holy people, and how extraordinarily great is the power that he has exercised for us believers;

this accords with the strength of his power at work in Christ, the power which he exercised in raising him from the dead and enthroning him at his right hand, in heaven, far above every principality, ruling force, power or sovereignty, or any other name that can be named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.

He has put all things under his feet, and made him, as he is above all things, the head of the Church; which is his Body, the fullness of him who is filled, all in all.

The Word of the Lord.

Second Reading

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans 

The life and death of each of us has its influence on others; if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord, so that alive or dead we belong to the Lord.  This explains why Christ both died and came to life, it was so that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. 

We shall all have to stand before the judgement seat of God; as scripture says: By my life – it is the Lord who speaks – every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall praise God. 

The word of the Lord.

          Second Reading

A Reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Phillippians.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.

The word of the Lord.

Gospel Readings

Matthew 13:24-30

He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

The refrain, “An enemy has done this” can be very effective.  We know that mental illness, including depression, can result in suicide.  I’m convinced that “an enemy has done this” and the experience of the master in knowing the difference between weeds and wheat, what was planted and what was not, who a person is and what awful things have been a part of that person’s life cannot be underestimated.

A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”  After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.  Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”  When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Gospel

 A reading from the Gospel according to Mark 9:2-13

Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became dazzlingly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus: ‘Rabbi,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and there came a voice from the cloud, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus.

    As they came down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew

Then Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.

When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was far from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them.

And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.  But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.”

And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me come to you on the water.”  He said, “Come.”

So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”  Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

 And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent round to all that region and brought to him all that were sick, and begged him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well.

This is the Gospel of the Lord

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus  there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah?  Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

The Gospel of the Lord

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke

Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken;  and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”  When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

THIS IS THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD.

A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said :-

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.  No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body.  While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them.  The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen.  Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”  Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest.  Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

The Gospel of the Lord.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:

Father, I desire that those you have given me, may be with me where I am, to behold my glory which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you; and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and that I may be in them.

THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD

Jesus Stills the Storm

 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.  A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.  And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”  And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm.  They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

A READING FROM THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.   It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”  But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by means of it.”

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus  had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off,  and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.  When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary sat in the house.  Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”   Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,  and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”  She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.”

THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD

A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God;  all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The Gospel of the Lord.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew

“Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

“Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

 “And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors;  And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

John 6:51-58

Whoever eats this bread will live forever, and I will raise them up on the last day.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Jesus said to the crowds:

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven;

     whoever eats this bread will live forever;

     and the bread that I will give is my Flesh

     for the life of the world.”

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,

     “How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?”

Jesus said to them,

     “Amen, amen, I say to you,

     unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood,

     you do not have life within you.

Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood

     has eternal life,

     and I will raise him on the last day.

For my Flesh is true food,

     and my Blood is true drink.

Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood

     remains in me and I in him.

Just as the living Father sent me

     and I have life because of the Father,

     so also the one who feeds on me

     will have life because of me.

This is the bread that came down from heaven.

Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,

     whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew

           (11:25-30)

At that time Jesus said,

“I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,

because you have hidden these things from the wise

and the intelligent

and have revealed them to infants;

yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

All things have been handed over to me by my Father

;

and no one knows the Son except the Father,

and no one knows the Father except the Son

and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,

and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me;

for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The Gospel of the Lord

A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke        

(12:35-40)

Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit;

be like those who are waiting for their master

to return from the wedding banquet,

so that they may open the door for him

as soon as he comes and knocks.

Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes;

truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have

them sit down to eat,

and he will come and serve them.

If he comes during the middle of the night, or near

 dawn,

and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

“But know this:

if the owner of the house had known at what hour th

e thief was coming,

he would not have let his house be broken into.

You also must be ready,

for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Matthew 11:25-30

Come to me and I will give you rest.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

At that time Jesus answered:

“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,

     for although you have hidden these things

     from the wise and the learned

     you have revealed them to the childlike.

Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.

All things have been handed over to me by my Father.

No one knows the Son except the Father,

     and no one knows the Father except the Son

     and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,

     and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

     for I am meek and humble of heart;

     and you will find rest for yourselves.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to John

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself, and has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life.

The Gospel of the Lord.

A reading from the holy gospel according to John (6:37-40)

Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,

and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away;

for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will,

but the will of him who sent me.

And this is the will of him who sent me,

that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me,

but raise it up on the last day.

This is indeed the will of my Father,

that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life;

and I will raise them up on the last day.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

A reading from the holy gospel according to John (11:32-45)

When Mary, the sister of Lazarus, came where Jesus was and saw him,

she knelt at his feet and said to him,

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping,

he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved.

He said, “Where have you laid him?”

They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”

Jesus began to weep.

So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

But some of them said,

“Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man

have kept this man from dying?”

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb.

It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.

Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”

Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him,

“Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.”

Jesus said to her,

“Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

So they took away the stone.

And Jesus looked upward and said,

“Father, I thank you for having heard me.

I knew that you always hear me,

but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here,

so that they may believe that you sent me.”

When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth,

and his face wrapped in a cloth.

Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Many of the Jews therefore,

who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to John

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.”  Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

The Gospel of the Lord.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke 10:38-42

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

The Gospel of the Lord