| Choices for the Second Reading from the
New Testament
(NT Choice #1) Longer Form
ACTS 10: 34-43
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles
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
(NT Choice #2) Shorter Form
ACTS 10: 34-36 42-43
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles
Peter proceeded to address the people in these words: "I begin to see how true it is that God shows no partiality. Rather, the man of any nation who fears God
and acts uprightly is acceptable to Him. This is the message He has sent to the son of Israel, 'the good news of peace' proclaimed through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all. He commissioned us to preach to the people and to bear witness that He is the one set apart by God as judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets testify, saying that everyone who believes in Him has forgiveness of sins through His name."
The Word of the Lord
(NT Choice #3)
ROM 5:5-11
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans
Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through holy Spirit that has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for 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 for 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 whom we have now received reconciliation.
The Word of the Lord
(NT Choice #4)
ROM 5: 17-21
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans
If death began its reign through one man because of his offense, much more shall those who receive the overflowing grace and gift of justice live and reign through the one man, Jesus Christ. To sum up, then: just as a single offense brought condemnation to all, a single righteous act brought all men acquittal & life. Just as through one man's disobedience all became sinners, so through one man's obedience all shall become just. The law came in order to increase offenses;
but despite 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, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Word of the Lord
(NT - Choice #5) Longer Form
ROM 6:3-9
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans
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
(NT Choice #6) Shorter Form
ROM 6: 3-4. 8-9
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans
Are you not aware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Through baptism into his death we were buried with him, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life. If we have died with Christ, we believe that we are also to live with Him.
We know that Christ, once raised from the dead, will never die again; death has no more power over Him.
The Word of the Lord
(NT Choice #7)
ROM 8: 14-23
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans
Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not received 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 with God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with Him so as to 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 of futility, not of its own accord, but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would beset 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 firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
The Word of the Lord
(NT Choice #8)
ROM 8: 31-35. 37-39
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans
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 conqueror 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 any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
(NT Choice #9)
ROM 14: 7-9. 10-12
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans
None of us lives as his own master and none of us dies as his own master. While we live we are responsible to the Lord, and when we die, we die as His servants.
Both in life and in death we are the Lord's. that is why Christ died and came to life again, that He might 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 will have to give an account of himself before God.
The Word of the Lord
(NT Choice #10) Longer Form
1 COR 15: 20-24. 25-28
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians
Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. Death came through a man; hence the resurrection of the dead comes 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. After that will come the end, when, after having destroyed every sovereignty, authority, and power, He will hand over the kingdom to God the Father. Christ must reign until God has put all enemies under his feet,
and the last enemy to be destroyed is death. Scripture reads that God "has placed all things under his feet." But when it says that everything has been made
subject, it is clear that He who has made everything subject to Christ is excluded.
When, finally, all has been subjected to the Son, He will 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
(NT Choice #11) Shorter Form
1 COR 15: 20-23
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians
Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits 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 firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ.
The word of the Lord
(NT Choice #12)
1 COR 15: 51-57
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians
I am going to tell you a mystery. Not all of us shall fall asleep, but all of us are to be changed in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of the last trumpet. The trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed. This corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, this mortal body with immortality, then will the saying of Scripture be fulfilled: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and sin gets its power from the law. But thanks be to God who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Word of the Lord
(NT Choice #13)
2 COR 4:14-5:1
A reading from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians
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, tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.
The Word of the Lord
(NT Choice #14)
2 COR 5:1, 6-10
A reading from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians
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
(NT Choice #15)
PHIL 3: 20-21
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Philippians
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
(NT Choice #16)
1 THES 4: 13-18
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, 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 himself, 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
(NT Choice #17)
2 TM 2: 8-13
A reading from the second letter of Paul to Timothy
Remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of David, was raised from the dead. This is the gospel I preach; in preaching it I suffer as a criminal, even to the point of being thrown into chains-but there is no chaining the word of God! Therefore I bear with all of this for the sake of those whom God has chosen, in order that they may obtain the salvation to be found in Christ 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
(NT Choice #18)
1 JN 3: 1-2
A reading from the first letter of John
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 Gods 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
(NT Choice #19)
1 JN 3: 14-16
A reading from the first letter of John
We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. Whoever does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers [and sisters].
The Word of the Lord
(NT Choice #20)
RV 14: 13
A reading from the book of Revelation
I, John, heard a voice from heaven say to me: "Write this down: Happy now are the dead who die in the Lord!" The Spirit added, "Yes, they shall find rest from their labors, for their good works accompany them."
The Word of the Lord
(NT Choice #21)
REV 20:11-21:1
A reading from the book of Revelation
I saw a large white throne and the one who was sitting on it. The earth and the sky fled from his presence and there was no place for them. I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Then another scroll was opened, the book of life. The dead were judged according to their deeds, by what was written in the scrolls. The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades gave up their dead. All the dead were judged according to their deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire. (This pool of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the pool of fire. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
The Word of the Lord
(NT Choice #22)
REV 21: 1-5a. 6-7b
A reading from the book of Revelation
I, John, saw new heavens and a new earth. The former heavens and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer. I also saw a new Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne cry out: "This is God's dwelling among men. He shall dwell with them & they shall be His people,
and He shall be their God who is always with them. He shall wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, crying out or pain,
for the former world has passed away."
The Word of the Lord
Additional New Testament Readings:
1 Corinthians 2: 1-6, 9
1 Corinthians 9: 24-27
1 Corinthians 12: 31 13: 1-7
1 Corinthians 13: 1-7
1 Corinthians 13: 8-12
1 Corinthians 15: 12-20
2 Corinthians 2:1-6, 9
Galatians 6: 7-10
Ephesians 2: 4-10
Ephesians 3: 14-21
Ephesians 5: 8-14
Philippians 4:4-9
Colossians 3: 14-15, 17, 23-24
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18
2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 17-18
Hebrews 11: 1-2, 8-10, 13-16
1 Peter 1: 3-9
1 Peter 2: 21-24
1 John 4: 7-12, 17
Revelation 22: 1-7
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