1. A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans – 5:5-11
Brothers and sisters:
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 yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for 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, Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through who we have now received reconciliation.
The Word of the Lord.
2. A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans – 5:17-21
Brothers and sisters:
If, by the transgression of the one, death came to reign through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of justification came to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all. For just as through the disobedience of one person the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of one the many will be made righteous. The law entered in so that transgression might increase but, where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through justification for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Word of the Lord.
3. A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans – 6:3-9
Brothers and sisters:
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. For a dead person has been absolved from sin. If then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.
The Word of the Lord.
4. A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans – 8:14-23
Brothers and sisters:
Those 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 received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
The Word of the Lord.
5. A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans – 8:31b-35, 37-39
Brothers and sisters:
If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how 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
6. – A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans 14:7-9, 10b-12
Brothers and sisters:
No one lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For this is why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written:
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God.”
So then each of us shall give an account of himself to God.
The Word of the Lord
7. A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians – 15:20-23, 24b-28
Brothers and sisters:
Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came also through a human being. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the first-fruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death, for “he subjected everything under his feet.” But when it says that everything has been subjected, it is clear that it excludes the One who subjected everything to him. When everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the One who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.
The Word of the Lord.
8. A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians – 15:51-57
Brothers and sisters:
Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in an instant, in the blink of an eye, at the sound of the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For that which is corruptible must clothe itself with incorruptibility, and that which is mortal must clothe itself with immortality. And when that which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and that which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death is your victory?
Where, O death is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Word of the Lord.
9. A reading from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians – 4:14-5:1
Brothers and sisters:
We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.
Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.
For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.
The Word of the Lord
10. A reading from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians – 5:1, 6-10
Brothers and sisters:
We know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.
So we are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord. Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.
The Word of the Lord
11. A reading from the letter of Paul to the Philippians – 3:20-21
Brothers and sisters:
Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself.
The Word of the Lord
12. A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians – 4:13-18
Brothers and sisters:
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep. Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord he, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, console one another with these words.
The Word of the Lord
13. A reading from the second letter of Paul to Timothy – 2:8-13
Beloved:
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of chains, like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory. This saying is trustworthy:
If we have died with him, we shall also live with him;
If we persevere we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.
The Word of the Lord.
14. A reading from the second letter of Paul to Timothy – 4:6-8
I for my part am already being poured out like a libation. The time of my dissolution is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on a merited crown awaits me; on that Day the Lord, just judge that he is, will award it to me – and not only to me but to all who have looked for his appearing with eager longing.
The Word of the Lord
15. A reading from the first letter of John – 3:1-2
Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
The Word of the Lord.
16. A reading from the first letter of John – 3:14-16
Beloved:
We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers and sisters. Whoever does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that a murderer has not eternal life remaining in him. The way we came to know love was that Jesus laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
The Word of the Lord
17. A reading from the book of Revelation – 21:1-5a, 6b-7
I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.”
The one who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water. The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my Son.”
The Word of the Lord
18. A reading from the Book of Revelation – 7:9-10, 15-17
After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne and from the Lamb.”
“For this reason they stand before God’s throne and worship him day and night in his temple. The one who sits on the throne will shelter them. They will not hunger or thirst anymore, nor will the sun or the heat strike them. For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
The Word of the Lord.
19. A reading from the letter of Paul to the Ephesians – 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will.
The Word of the Lord
During the Easter Season (from Easter until Pentecost), the following New Testament readings may be used as the first reading instead of an Old Testament reading.
1. A reading from the Acts of the Apostles – 10:34-43
Peter proceeded to address the people in these words:
“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him. You know the word that he sent to the Israelites as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.
The Word of the Lord.
18. A reading from the book of Revelation – 14:13
I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” said the Spirit, “Let them find rest from their labors, for their works accompany them.”
The Word of the Lord
Prayer of the Faithful
Priest: My brothers and sisters, the Lord Jesus is risen from the dead and sits at the right
hand of the Father, where He intercedes for His Church. Confident that God
hears the voices of those who trust in the Lord Jesus, we join our prayers to His.
Reader: In baptism N. received the light of Christ. Scatter the darknesss now and lead
him/her over the waters of death, we pray to the Lord
Reader: Many friends and members of our families have gone before us and await the
Kingdom. Grant them an everlasting home with your Son, we pray to the Lord
Reader: Those who trusted in the Lord now sleep in the Lord. Give refreshment, rest
and peace to all whose faith is known to you alone, we pray to the Lord
Reader: The family and friends of N. seek comfort and consolation. Heal their pain and
dispel the darkness and doubt that come from grief, we pray to the Lord
Reader: We are assembled here in faith and confidence to pray for our brother/sister N.
Strengthen our hope so that we may live in the expectation of your Son’s
coming, we pray to the Lord
Priest: Lord God, giver of peace and healer of souls, hear the prayers of the redeemer, Jesus Christ, and the voices of your people whose lives were purchased by the Blood of the Lamb. Forgive the sins of all who sleep in Christ and grant them a place in the kingdom where you live forever and ever. Amen
OR
Priest: God, the almighty Father, raised Christ his Son from the dead; with confidence
we ask him to save all his people, living and dead:
Reader: For N who in baptism was given the pledge of eternal life, that he/she may
now be admitted to the company of the saints. We pray to the Lord
Reader: For our deceased relatives and friends and for all who have helped us, that
they may have the reward of their goodness. We pray to the Lord
Reader: For those who have fallen asleep in the hope of rising again, that they may
see God face to face. We pray to the Lord
Reader: For the family and friends of our brother/sister N that they may be consoled
in their grief by the Lord, who wept at the death of his friend Lazarus. We
pray to the Lord
Reader: For all of us assembled here to worship in faith, that we may be gathered
together again in God’s kingdom. We pray to the Lord.
Priest: God, our shelter and our strength, you listen to in love to the cry of your people;
hear the prayers we offer for our departed brothers and sisters. Cleanse them
of their sins and grant them the fullness of redemption.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
