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FUNERALREADINGSOUR LADY OF THE VISITATION

OLDTESTAMENTREADINGS

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF JOBJob answered and said: Oh, would that my words were written down! would that they were inscribed in a record: That with an iron chisel and with lead they were cut in the rock forever! But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives, and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust: Whom I myself shall see: My own eyes, not another’s, shall behold him, And from my flesh I shall see God; My inmost being is consumed with longing. THE WORD OF THE LORD JOB 19: 1, 23-27

WISDOM 3: 1-9 A READING FROM THE BOOK OF WISDOM The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction, and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; They shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord shall be their King forever. Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love; Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with his elect. THE WORD OF THE LORD

WISDOM 3: 1-6, 9 A READING FROM THE BOOK OF WISDOM The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction, and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed they be punished. yet is their hope full of immortality; Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love; Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with his elect. THE WORD OF THE LORD

WISDOM 4: 7-15 A READING FROM THE BOOK OF WISDOMThe just man, though he die early, shall be at rest. For the age that is honorable comes not with the passing of time, nor can it be measured in terms of years. Rather, understanding is the hoary crown for men, and an unsullied life, the attainment of old age. He who pleased God was loved; He who lived among sinners was transported – snatched away, lest wickedness pervert his mind or deceit beguile his soul; For the witchery of paltry things obscures what is right and the whirl of desire transforms the innocent mind. Having become perfect in a short while, he reached the fullness of a long career; for his soul was pleasing to the Lord, therefore he sped him out of the midst of wickedness. But the people saw and did not understand, nor did they take this into account. THE WORD OF THE LORD

ISAIAH 25: 6a, 7-9A READING FROM THE BOOK OF ISAIAHOn this mountain, the Lord of hosts will provide for allpeoples. On this mountain, he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples,The web that is woven over all nations; he will destroydeath forever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces;The reproach of his people he will remove from thewhole earth; for the Lord has spoken.On that day it will be said:“Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!This is the Lord for whom we looked; let us rejoice andbe glad that he has saved us!”THE WORD OF THE LORD

LAMENTATIONS 3: 17-26 THE WORD OF THE LORD A READING FROM THE BOOK OF LAMENTATIONS My soul is deprived of peace, I have forgotten what happiness is: I tell myself my future is lost, all that I hoped for from the Lord. The thought of my homeless poverty is wormwood and gall;Remembering it over and over leaves my soul downcast within me. But I will call this to mind, as my reason to have hope. The favors of the Lord are not exhausted, his mercies are not spent;They are renewed each morning so great is his faithfulness My portion is the Lord, says my soul; therefore I will hope in him.Good is the Lord to one who waits for him, to the soul that seeks him;It is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the Lord

THE WORD OF THE LORDDANIEL 12: 1-3A 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 thattime.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, others shall be an everlasting horrorand disgrace. But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament,And those who lead the many to justice shall be like the starsforever.

2 MACCABEES 12: 43-46 A READING FROM THE SECOND BOOK OF MACCABEES Judas [the ruler of Israel] 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

NEWTESTAMENTREADINGS

THE WORD OF THE LORD ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10: 34-43 A READING FROM THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES Peter proceeded to address them in these words: “I begin tosee how true it is that God shows no partiality. Rather, theman of any nation who fears God and acts uprightly isacceptable to him. This is the message he has sent to the sonsof Israel, the good news of peace through Jesus Christ who isLord of all. I take it you know what has been reported all over Judea about Jesus of Nazareth, beginning in Galilee withthe baptism John preached; of the way God anointed himwith the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing goodworks and healing all who were in the grip of the devil, andGod was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did in theland of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him, finally,hanging him on a tree, only to have God raise him up on thethird day and grant that he be seen, not to all, but only by such witnesses as had been chosen beforehand by God – byus who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.He commissioned us to preach to the people and bear witnessthat he is the one set apart by God as judge of the living andthe dead. To him all the prophets testify saying that everyonewho believes in him has forgiveness of sins through hisname.”

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10:34-36, 42-43 A READING FROM THE ACTS OF THEAPOSTLES Peter proceeded to address them in these words: “I begin tosee how true it is that God shows no partiality. Rather, the man of any nation who fears God and actsuprightly is acceptable to him. This is the message he has sent to the sons of Israel, the good news of peaceproclaimed through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all. Hecommissioned us to preach to the people and bear witnessthat he is the one set apart by God as judge of the living andthe dead. To him all the prophets testify, saying thateveryone who believes in him has forgiveness of sinsthrough his name.” THE WORD OF THE LORD

ROMANS 5: 5-11 A READING FROM THE LETTER OF PAUL TO THEROMANS And this hope will not leave us disappointed, because the loveof God has been poured out in our hearts through the HolySpirit who has been given to us. At the appointed time, whenwe were still powerless, Christ died for us godless men. It is rarethat anyone should lay down his life for a just man, though it isbarely possible that for a good man someone may have thecourage to die. It is precisely in this that God proves his love forus: that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Now thatwe have been justified by his blood, it is all the more certain that we shall be saved by him from God’s wrath. For if,when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him by the death of his Son, it is all the more certain that we who havebeen reconciled, will be saved by his life. Not only that, we goso far as to make God our boast through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. THE WORD OF THE LORD

ROMANS 5: 17-21 A READING FROM THE LETTER OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS If death began its reign through one man because ofhis offense, much more shall those who receive theover-flowing grace and gift of justice live and reign through the one man,Jesus Christ. To sum up, then: just as a single offensebrought condemnation to all men, a single righteousact brought all men acquittal and life. Just as throughone man’s disobedience all became sinners, sothrough one man’s obedience all shall become just.The law came in order to increase offenses; butdespite the increase of sin, grace has far surpassed it,so that, as sin reigned through death, grace may reign by way of justice leading to eternal life, throughJesus Christ our Lord. THE WORD OF THE LORD

ROMANS 6: 3-9 A READING FROM THE LETTER OF PAULTO THE ROMANS Are you not aware that we who were baptized intoChrist Jesus were baptized into his death? Throughbaptism into his death we were buried with him, sothat, just as Christ was raised from the dead by theglory of the Father, we too might live a new life. If wehave been united with him through likeness to hisdeath, so shall we be through a like resurrection. Thiswe know: our old self was crucified with him so thatthe sinful body might be destroyed and we might beslaves to sin no longer. A man who is dead has beenfreed from sin. If we have died with Christ, we believethat we are also to live with him. We know that Christ,once raised from the dead, will never die again; deathhas no more power over him. THE WORD OF THE LORD

ROMANS 6: 3-4, 8-9 A READING FROM THE LETTER OF PAULTO THE ROMANS Are you not aware that we who were baptized intoChrist Jesus were baptized into his death? Throughbaptism into his death we were buried with him, sothat, just as Christ was raised from the dead by theglory of the Father, we too might live a new life. If wehave died with Christ, we believe that we are also tolive with him. We know that Christ, once raised fromthe dead, will never die again; death has no more powerover him. THE WORD OF THE LORD

ROMANS 8: 14-23 A READING FROM THE LETTER OF PAULTO THE ROMANS All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.You did not receive a spirit of slavery leading you backinto fear, but a spirit of adoption through which wecry out, “Abba” (that is, “Father”). The Spirit himselfgives witness with our spirit that we are children ofGod. But if we are children, we are heirs as well; heirsof God, heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him,so as to be glorified with him. I consider the sufferingsof the present to be nothing compared with the gloryto be revealed in us. Indeed, the whole created worldeagerly awaits the revelation of the sons of God.Creation was made subject to futility, not of its ownaccord but by him who once subjected it; yet notwithout hope, because the world itself will be freed from its slavery to corruption and share in theglorious freedom of the children of God. Yes, weknow that all creation groans and is in agony evenuntil now. Not only that but we ourselves, althoughwe have the Spirit as first fruits, groan inwardly whilewe await the redemption of our bodies. THE WORD OF THE LORD

ROMANS 8: 31B-35, 37-39 A READING FROM THE LETTER OF PAUL TOTHE ROMANS If God is for us, who can be against us? Is it possible that hewho did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all,how will he not grant us all things besides? Who shall bring acharge against God’s chosen ones? Who will condemn them?Christ Jesus who died or rather was raised up, who is at theright hand of God, and who intercedes for us. Yet in all this we are more than conquerors because of himwho has loved us. For I am certain that neither death nor life,neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor thefuture, nor powers neither height nor depth nor any othercreature, will be able to separate us from the love of God thatcomes to us in Christ Jesus our Lord. THE WORD OF THE LORD

ROMANS 14: 7-9, 10B-12 THE WORD OF THE LORD A READING FROM THE LETTER OF PAULTO THE ROMANS None of us lives as his own master and none of usdies as his own master. While we live, we areresponsible to the Lord, and if we die, we die as hisservants. Both in life and in death we are the Lord’s.That is why Christ died and came to live again, that hemight be Lord of both the dead and the living. We shall all have to appear before the judgment seat of God. It is written, “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” Every one of us shall give an account of himself before God.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:20-23, 24B-28A READING FROM THE FIRST LETTER OF PAULTO THE CORINTHIANSBut as it is, Christ is now raised from the dead, the first fruitsof those who have fallen asleep. Death came through a man;hence the resurrection of the dead came through a man also.Just as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will come to life again,but each one in proper order: Christ the first fruits and then,at his coming, all those who belong to him. He will hand overthe kingdom to God the Father. Christ must reign until Godhas put all enemies under his feet, and the last enemy to bedestroyed is death. Scripture reads that God “has placed all things under his feet.” Butwhen it says that everything has been made subject, it is clearthat he who has made everything subject to Christ isexcluded. When finally, all has been subjected to the Son, hewill then subject himself to the One who made all things subject to him, so that God may be all in all.THE WORD OF THE LORD

1 CORINTHIANS 15: 20-23 THE WORD OF THE LORD A READING FROM THE FIRST LETTER OFPAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS But as it is, Christ is now raised from the dead, thefirst fruits of all who have fallen asleep. Death camethrough a man; hence the resurrection of the deadcomes through a man also. Just as in Adam all die, soin Christ all will come to life again, but each one inproper order: Christ the first fruits; then, at hiscoming, those who belong to him.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:14 – 5:1 A READING FROM THE SECOND LETTEROF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS Knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raiseus up along with Jesus and place both us and you in his presence. Indeed, we know that when the earthly tent in which we dwell is destroyed, we have a dwelling provided for us by God, a dwelling in the heavens, not made by hands but to last forever. THE WORD OF THE LORD

2 CORINTHIANS 5: 1, 6-10 A READING FROM THE SECOND LETTER OFPAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS Indeed, we know that when the earthly tent in which we dwellis destroyed, we have a dwelling provided for us by God, adwelling in the heavens, not made by hands but to lastforever. Therefore we continue to be confident. We know that whilewe dwell in the body we are away from the Lord. We walk by faith, not by sight. I repeat, we are full ofconfidence and would much rather be away from the bodyand at home with the Lord. This being so, we make it our aimto please him whether we are with him or away from him.The lives of all of us are to be revealed before the tribunal ofChrist so that each one may receive his recompense, good orbad, according to his life in the body. THE WORD OF THE LORD

PHILIPPIANS 3: 20-21 A READING FROM THE LETTER OF PAULTO THE PHILIPPIANS As you well know, we have our citizenship in heaven;it is from there that we eagerly await the coming ofour Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will give a newform to this lowly body of ours and remake itaccording to the pattern of his glorified body, by hispower to subject everything to himself. THE WORD OF THE LORD

1 THESSALONIANS 4: 13-18 A READING FROM THE LETTER OF PAUL TOTHE THESSALONIANS We would have you be clear about those who sleep in death,brothers: otherwise you might yield to grief, like those whohave no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose,God will bring forth with him from the dead those also whohave fallen asleep believing in him. We say to you, as if theLord himself had said it, that we who live, who survive untilhis coming, will in no way have an advantage over those whohave fallen asleep. No, the Lord himself will come downfrom heaven at the word of command, at the sound of thearchangel’s voice and God’s trumpet; and those who havedied in Christ will rise first. Then we, the living, thesurvivors, will be caught up with them in the clouds to meetthe Lord in the air. Thence- forth we shall be with the Lordunceasingly. Console one another with this message. THE WORD OF THE LORD

2 TIMOTHY 2: 8-13 A READING FROM THE SECOND LETTEROF PAUL TO TIMOTHY Remember Jesus Christ, a descendant of David, wasraised from the dead. This is the gospel I preach; inpreaching it I suffer as a criminal, even to the point ofbeing thrown into chains – but there is no chainingthe word of God! Therefore, I bear with all of this forthe sake of those whom God has chosen, in orderthat they may obtain the salvation to be found inChrist Jesus and with it eternal glory. You can depend on this: If we have died with him we shall also live with him; If we hold out to the end we shall also reign with him But if we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful he will still remain faithful, for he cannot deny himself. THE WORD OF THE LORD

1 JOHN 3: 1-3 A READING FROM THE FIRST LETTER OF JOHN See what love the Father has bestowed on us in letting us becalled children of God! Yet that is what we are. The reason theworld does not recognize us is that it never recognized theSon. Dearly beloved, we are God’s children now; what weshall later be has not yet come to light We know that when itcomes to light we shall be like him, for we shall see him as heis. Everyone who has this hope based on him keeps himselfpure, as he is pure. THE WORD OF THE LORD

1 JOHN 3: 14-16 THE WORD OF THE LORD A READING FROM THE FIRST LETTER OF JOHN That we have passed from death to life we know because welove the brothers. The man who does not love is among theliving dead. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, andyou know that eternal life abides in no murder’s heart. Theway we came to understand love was that he laid down his lifefor us; we too must lay down our lives for our brothers.

REVELATION 14:13 A READING FROM THE BOOK OF REVELATION I heard a voice from heaven say to me: “Write this down:Happy now are the dead who die in the Lord!” The Spiritadded, “Yes, they shall find rest from their labors, for theirgood works accompany them.” THE WORD OF THE LORD

REVELATION 20: 11-15, 21:1 A READING FROM THE BOOK OF REVELATION Next I saw a large white throne and the One who sat on it.The earth and the sky fled from his presence until they couldno longer be seen. I saw the dead, the great and the lowly,standing before the throne. Lastly, among the scrolls the bookof the living was opened. The dead were judged according totheir conduct as recorded on the scrolls. The sea gave up itsdead; then death and the nether world gave up their dead.Each person was judged according to their conduct. Thendeath and the nether world were hurled into the pool of fire,which is the second death; anyone whose name was notfound inscribed in the book of the living was hurled into thispool of fire. Then I saw new heavens and a new earth. The formerheavens and the former earth had passed away, and the seawas no longer. THE WORD OF THE LORD

REVELATION 21: 1-5A, 6B-7 THE WORD OF THE LORD A READING FROM THE BOOK OFREVELATION Then I saw new heavens and a new earth. Theformer heaven and the former earth had passed away and the sea was no longer. I also saw a newJerusalem, the holy city, coming down out of heaven from God, beautiful as a bride prepared tomeet her husband. I heard a loud voice from thethrone cry out: “This is God’s dwelling among men.He shall dwell with them and they shall be his people and he shall be their God who is always withthem. He shall wipe every tear from their eyes, andthere shall be no more death or mourning, cryingout or pain, for the former world has passed away.”The one who sat on the throne said, “See, I make allthings new!” I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To anyone who thirsts, I will give to drink without cost from the spring of life-giving water. He who wins the victory shall inherit these gifts, and I will be his God and he shall be my son.”

GOSPELREADINGS

THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD MATTHEW 5: 1-12A A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountainside. After he had satdown, his disciples gathered around him and he began to teach them: “How blest are the poor in spirit: The reign of God is theirs.Blest too are the sorrowing: they shall be consoled. Blest are the lowly, they shall inherit the land. Blest are they who hunger and thirst for holiness, they shall have their fill. Blest are they who show mercy, mercy shall be theirs. Blest are the single-hearted, for they shall see God. Blest too are the peacemakers; they shall be called sons of God. Blest are those persecuted for holiness’ sake, the reign of God is theirs. Blest are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of slander against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is great in heaven.

MATTHEW 11: 25-30 THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPELACCORDING TO MATTHEW On one occasion, Jesus spoke thus: “Father, Lord of heaven and earth, to you I offer praise: for what you have hidden from the learned and the clever you have revealed to the merest children. Father, it is true you have graciously willed it so. Everything has been given over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son but the Father, and no one knows the Father but the Son - and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. “Come to me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. Your souls will find rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden light.”

MATTHEW 25: 1-13 A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW “The reign of God can be likened to ten bridesmaids whotook their torches and went out to welcome the groom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible. The foolishones, in taking their torches, brought no oil along, but thesensible ones took flasks as well as their torches. The groom delayed his coming, so they all began to nod, thento fall asleep. At midnight, someone shouted, “The groom ishere! Come out and greet him!” At the outcry all the virginswoke up and got their torches ready. The foolish ones said to the sensible, ‘Give us some of your oil.Our torches are going out.’ But the sensible ones replied, ‘No,there may not be enough for you and us. You had better go tothe dealers and buy yourselves some.’ While they went off tobuy it, the groom arrived, and the ones who were ready went in to the wedding with him. Then thedoor was barred. Later the other bridesmaids came and said,‘Master, master!’ they cried. Open the door for us!’ But he answered, ‘I tell you, I do not know you.’ The moral is:keep your eyes open, for you know not the day or the hour. THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD

MATTHEW 25: 31-46 CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE...A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPELACCORDING TO MATTHEW “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted byall the angels of heaven, he will sit upon his royalthrone, and all the nations will be assembled beforehim. The he will separate them into two groups, as ashepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Thesheep he will place on his right hand, the goats on hisleft. The king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, youhave my Father’s blessing! Inherit the kingdomprepared for you from the creation of the world. For Iwas hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty andyou gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me,naked and you clothed me. I was ill and you comfortedme, in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the justwill ask him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see youhungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

MATTHEW 25: 31-46 (continued)THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD When did we welcome you away from home, or clothe you inyour nakedness? When did we visit you when you were ill or inprison?’ The king will answer them: ‘I assure you, as often as youdid it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left: ‘Out of my sight, youcondemned, into that everlasting fire prepared for the devil andhis angels. I was hungry, and you gave me no food, I was thirstyand you gave me no drink, I was away from home and you gaveme no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, I was illand in prison, and you did not come to comfort me.’ Then theywill in turn ask: Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty oraway from home or naked or ill or in prison, and not attend toyour needs?’ He will answer them, ‘I assure you, as often as youneglected to do it to one of these least ones, you neglected to doto me.’ These will go off to eternal punishment, and the just toeternal life.”

MARK 15: 33-39, 16: 1-6 When noon came, darkness fell on the whole countryside and lasted until midafternoon. At that time Jesus cried in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which is means, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” a few of the bystanders who heard it said, “Listen! He is calling on Elijah.” Someone ran off, and soaking a sponge in sour wine, stuck it on a reed to try and make him drink. The man said, “Now let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down.” Then Jesus, uttering a loud cry breathed his last. At that moment, thecurtain in the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. Thecenturion who stood guard over him on seeing the manner of his death,declared, “Clearly this man was the Son of God!” When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome brought perfumed oils with which they intended to go and anoint Jesus. Very early, just after sunrise, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb. They were saying to one another, “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” when they looked, they found that the stone had been rolled back (it was a huge one). On entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, dressed in a white robe. This frightened them thoroughly, but he reassured them: “You need not be amazed! You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, the one who was crucified. He has been raised up; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.” THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

LUKE 7:11-17 A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPELACCORDING TO LUKE Soon afterward he went to a town called Naim, and hisdisciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As heapproached the gate of the town a dead man was beingcarried out, the only son of a widowed mother. Aconsiderable crowd of townsfolk were with her. The Lordwas moved with pity upon seeing her and said to her, “Donot cry.” Then he stepped forward and touched the litter;at this, the bearers halted. He said, “Young man, I bid youget up!” The dead man sat up and began to speak. ThenJesus gave him back to his mother. Fear seized them all,and they began to praise God. “A great prophet has arisenamong us,” they said; and “God has visited his people.”This was the report that spread about him throughoutJudea and the surrounding country. THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD

LUKE 12: 35-40 A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE Jesus said to his disciples: “Let your belts be fastened around your waists and your lamps be burning ready. Be like men awaiting their master’s return from a wedding, so that when he arrives and knocks, you will open for him without delay. It will go well with those servants whom the master finds wide awake on his return. I tell you, he will put on an apron, seat them at table, and proceed to wait on them. Should he happen to come at midnight or before sunrise and find them prepared, it will go well with them. You know as well as I that if the head of the house knew when the thief was coming he would not let him break into his house. Be on guard, therefore. The Son of Man will come when you least expect him.” THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD

LUKE 23: 33, 39-43 A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPELACCORDING TO LUKE When they came to Skull Place, as it was called, they crucifiedhim there and the criminals as well, one on his right, the otheron his left. One of the criminals hanging in crucifixion blasphemed him:“Aren’t you the Messiah? Then save yourself and us.” But theother one rebuked him: “Have you no fear of God, seeing youare under the same sentence? We deserve it after all. We arepaying the price for what we’ve done, but this man has donenothing wrong.” He then said, “Jesus, remember me when youenter upon your reign.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you: thisday you will be with me in Paradise.” THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD

THE GOSPEL OF THE LORDLUKE 23: 44-46, 50, 52-53; 24: 1-6A A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE It was now around midday, and darkness came over the whole land until midafternoon with an eclipse of the sun. The curtain in the sanctuary was torn in two. Jesus uttered a loud cry and said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” After he said this he expired. There was a man named Joseph, an upright and holy member of the Sanhedrin. This man approached Pilate with a request for Jesus’ body. He took it down, wrapped it in fine linen, and laid it in a tomb hewn out of the rock, in which no one had yet been buried. On the first day of the week, at dawn, the women came to the tomb bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled back from the tomb; but when they entered the tomb, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were still at a loss over what to think of this, two men in dazzling garments stood beside them. Terrified, the women bowed to the ground. The men said to them: “Why do you search for the Living One among the dead? He is not here; he has been raised up.

LUKE 23: 44-46, 50, 52-53 A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPELACCORDING TO LUKE It was now around midday, and darkness came over the wholeland until midafternoon with an eclipse of the sun. The curtain in the sanctuary was torn in two. Jesus uttered aloud cry and said, “Father, into your hands I commend myspirit.” After he said this he expired. There was a man named Joseph, an upright and holy member of the Sanhedrin. This man approached Pilate with arequest for Jesus’ body. He took it down, wrapped it in finelinen, and laid it in a tomb hewn out of the rock, in which noone had yet been buried. THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD.

LUKE 24: 13-35 Two of them that same day were making their wayto the village named Emmaus seven miles distantfrom Jerusalem, discussing as they went all thathad happened. In the course of their livelyexchange, Jesus approached and began to walkalong with them. However, they were restrainedfrom recognizing him. He said to them, what areyou discussing as you go your way?” They halted,in distress, and one of them, Cleopas by name,asked him, “Are you the only resident ofJerusalem who does not know the things thatwent on there these past few days?” He said tothem, “What things?” They said: “All those thathad to do with Jesus of Nazareth, a prophetpowerful in word and deed in the eyes of God andall the people: how our chief priests and leadersdelivered him up to be condemned to death, andcrucified him.” A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKEcontinued on the next page...

LUKE 24: 13-35 (continued)... “We were hoping that he was the one whowould set Israel free. Besides all this, today, the third day since these things happened,some women of our group have just brought us some astonishing news. They wereat the tomb before dawn and failed to find his body, but returned with the tale that theyhad seen a vision of angels who declared hewas alive. Some of our number went to thetomb and found it to be just as the womensaid, but him they did not see.” Then he said to them, “What little sense you have! How slow you are to believe, all that theprophets have announced! Did not the Messiahhave to undergo all this so as to enter intohis glory?” Beginning, then, with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted for themevery passage of Scripture which referred to him. By now they were near the village to which they were going and he acted as if he were going farther.continued on the next page...

LUKE 24: 13-35 (continued)... THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD But they pressed him: “Stay with us. It is nearlyevening – the day is practically over.” So, he went into stay with them. When he had seated himself withthem to eat, he took bread, pronounced the blessing,then broke the bread and began to distribute it tothem. With that their eyes were opened and theyrecognized him; whereupon he vanished from theirsight. They said to one another, “Were not ourhearts burning inside us as he talked to us on theroad and explained the Scriptures to us?” They gotup immediately and returned to Jerusalem, wherethey found the Eleven and the rest of the companyassembled. They were greeted with “The Lord hasbeen raised! It is true! He has appeared to Simon.”Then they recounted what had happened on theroad and how they had come to know him in thebreaking of bread.

LUKE 24: 13-16, 28-35 THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD A READING FROM THE HOLYGOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE Two of them that same day were making their way to the village named Emmaus seven miles distant from Jerusalem,discussing as they went all that had happened. In the course oftheir lively exchange, Jesus approached and began to walk alongwith them. However, they were restrained from recognizinghim. By now they were near the village to which they were going and he acted as if he were going farther. But they pressed him: “Stay with us. It is nearly evening – the day is practically over.” So, he went in to stay with them. When he had seated himself with them to eat, he took bread, pronounced the blessing, then broke the bread and began to distribute it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him; whereupon he vanished from their sight. They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning inside us as he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” They got up immediately and returned to Jerusalem, where they found the Eleven and the rest of the company assembled. They were greeted with “The Lord has been raised! It is true! He has appeared to Simon.” Then they recounted what had happened on the road and how they had come to know him in the breaking of bread.

JOHN 5: 24-29 A READING FROM THE HOLYGOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN “I solemnly assure you, the man who hears my wordand has faith in him who sent me possesses eternallife. He does not come under condemnation, but has passed from death to life. I solemnly assure you, an hour is coming, has indeed come, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who have heeded it shall live. Indeed, just as the Father possesses life in himself, so has he granted it to the Son to have life in himself. The Father has given over to him power to pass judgment because he is Son of Man; no need for you to be surprised at this, for an hour is coming in which all those in their tombs shall hear his voice and come forth. Those who have done right shall rise to live; the evildoers shall rise to be damned. THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD

A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN “All that the Father gives me shall come to me; no one whocomes will I ever reject, because it is not to do my own willthat I have come down from heaven, but to do the will ofhim who sent me. It is the will of him who sent me that Ishould lose nothing of what he has given me; rather that Ishould raise it up on the last day. Indeed, this is the will of myFather, that everyone who looks upon the Son and believes inhim shall have eternal life. Him I will raise up on the lastday.” THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD JOHN 6: 37-40

JOHN 6: 51-58 THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD A READING FROM THE HOLYGOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN “I myself am the living bread come down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread he shall live forever;the bread I will give is my flesh for the life of theworld.” At this the Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can he give us his flesh to eat?” Thereupon Jesus said to them, “Let me solemnly assure you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. He who feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has life eternal, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood real drink. The man who feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the Father who has life sent me and I have life because of the Father, so the man 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 died nonetheless, the man who feeds on this bread shall live forever.”

JOHN 11: 17-27 A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPELACCORDING TO JOHN When Jesus arrived in Bethany, he found that Lazarus hadalready been in the tomb for four days. The village wasnot far from Jerusalem – just under two miles away – andmany Jewish people had come to console Martha andMary over their brother. When Martha heard that Jesuswas coming she went to meet him, while Mary sat athome. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord if you have been here,my brother would never have died. Even now, I am surethat God will give you whatever you ask of him.” “Yourbrother will rise again.” Jesus assured her. “I know he will rise again,” Martha replied, “in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, though he should die, will come to life: and whoever is alive and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord, shereplied. “I have come to believe that you are the Messiah,the Son of God: he who is to come into the world.” THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD

JOHN 11: 21-27 THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPELACCORDING TO JOHN Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here,my brother would never have died. Even now, I amsure that God will give you whatever you ask ofhim.” “Your brother will rise again.” Jesus assuredher. “I know he will rise again,” Martha replied “inthe resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her: “Iam the resurrection and the life: whoever believes inme, though he should die, will come to life; andwhoever is alive and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied. “Ihave come to believe that you are the Messiah, theSon of God: he who is to come into the world.”

A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TOJOHN When Mary came to the place where Jesus was, seeing him, she fell athis feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldnever have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who hadaccompanied her also weeping, he was troubled in spirit, moved by thedeepest emotions. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Lord, comeand see.” They said. Jesus began to weep, which caused the Jews toremark, “See how much he loved him!” But some said, “He openedthe eyes of the blind man. Why could he not have done something tostop this man from dying?” Once again troubled in spirit, Jesus approached the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone laid across it. “Take away the stone.” Jesus directed.Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, “Lord it has been four daysnow; surely there will be a stench!” Jesus replied, “Did I not assure youthat if you believed you would see the glory of God displayed?” Theythen took away the stone and Jesus looked upward and said: “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I know that you always hearme but I have said this for the sake of the crowd, that they may believethat you sent me.” Having said this, he called loudly, “Lazarus, comeout!” The dead man came out, bound hand and foot with linen strips,his face wrapped in a cloth. “Untie him,” Jesus told them, “and let himgo free.” This caused many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, to put their faith in him. THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD JOHN 11: 32-45

JOHN 12: 23-28 THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPELACCORDING TO JOHN Jesus answered them: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I solemnly assure you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, it produces much fruit. The man who loves his life loses it, while the man who hates his life in this world preserves it to life eternal. If anyone would serve me, let him follow me; where I am, there will my servant be. If anyone serves me, him the Father will honor. “My soul is troubled now, yet what should I say? -- ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from the sky, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.”

A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN Jesus answered them: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to beglorified. I solemnly assure you, unless the grain ofwheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, itproduces much fruit. The man who loves his life losesit, while the man who hates his life in this world preserves it to lifeeternal. If anyone would serve me, let him follow me;where I am, there will my servant be. If anyone servesme, him the Father will honor. THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD JOHN 12: 23-26

JOHN 14: 1-6 THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPELACCORDING TO JOHN “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God and faith in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places; otherwise, how could I have told you that I was going to prepare a place for you? I am indeed going to prepare a place for you, and then I shall come back to take you with me, that where I am you also may be. You know the way that leads where I go. “Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.”

A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPELACCORDING TO JOHN Father, all those you gave me I would have in mycompany where I am, to see this glory of mine which isyour gift to me, because of the love you bore me beforethe world began. Just Father, the world has not knownyou, but I have known you, and these men have knownthat you sent me. To them I have revealed your name,and I will continue to reveal it so that your love for memay live in them, and I may live in them.THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD. JOHN 17:24-26

JOHN 19: 17-18, 25-30 A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPELACCORDING TO JOHN Jesus carrying the cross himself went out to what is called the Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they crucified him, and two others with him: one on either side, Jesus in the middle. Near the cross of Jesus there stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdalene. Seeing his mother there with the disciple whom he loved, Jesus said to his mother, “Woman, there is your son.” In turn he said to the disciple, “There is your mother.” From that hour onward, the disciple took her into his care. After that, Jesus realizing that everything was nowfinished, said to fulfill the Scripture, “I am thirsty.”There was a jar there full of common wine. They stucka sponge soaked in this wine on some hyssop andraised it to his lips. When Jesus took the wine, he said,“Now it is finished.” Then he bowed his head, anddelivered over his spirit. THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD