Longer Form

(OT - 1)

Naomi returned with the Moabite

daughter-in law, Ruth, to Bethlehem

RU 1: 14b-16, 22

A reading from the beginning of the Book of Ruth  

Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, but Ruth stayed with her. Naomi said, "See now!" Your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her god. Go back after your sister-in-law!"But Ruth said, "Do not ask me to abandon or forsake you! for wherever you go I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God.  Thus it was that Naomi returned with the Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth, who accompanied her back from the plateau of Moab. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

The Word of the Lord

(OT -2)

It is good and holy to think of the dead rising again

2MC 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

(OT - 3)

We accept all things from God

JOB 1: 2

A reading from the book of Job

One day, when the children of God came

to present themselves before the Lord,

Satan also came among them.

And the Lord said to Satan,

"Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?"

But Satan answered the Lord and said,

"Is it for nothing that Job is reverent of God?

Have you not surrounded him and his family

and all that he has with your protection?

But now put forth your hand and touch anything he has,

and surely he will blaspheme you to your face."

And the Lord said to Satan,

"Behold!  All that Job has is in your power..."

And so, one day, a messenger came to Job and said...

"Your sons and daughters were eating

and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother,

when suddenly a great wind came across the desert

and smote the four corners of the house.

It fell upon the young people and they are dead;

and I alone have escaped to tell you."

Then Job began to tear his cloak...

He cast himself prostrate on the ground and said,

"Naked I came forth from my mother's womb,

and naked shall I go back again.

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;

Blessed be the name of the Lord!"...We accept good things from God;

and should we not accept evil?"

In all this, Job did not say

anything disrespectful of God.

The Word of the Lord

(OT - 4)

I know that my redeemer  lives

JOB 19: 1. 23-27

A reading from the book of Job

Job 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

(OT -5)

A worthy wife and mother

PROVERBS 31: 10-31

A reading from the book of Proverbs

When one finds a worthy wife,

her value is far beyond pearls.

Her husband, entrusting his heart to her,

has an unfailing prize.

she brings him good, and not evil,

all the days of her life.

She obtains wool and flax and makes

cloth with skillful hands.

She rises while it is still night,

and prepares food for her household.

She is girt about with strength,

and sturdy are her arms.

she reaches out her hands to the poor,

and extends her arms to the needy.

She is clothed with strength and dignity,

and she laughs at the days to come.

She opens her mouth in wisdom,

and on her tongue is kindly counsel.

She watches the conduct of her household,

and she eats not her food in idleness.

Her children rise up and praise her,

her husband, too, extols her, declaring:

"Many are the women of proven worth,

but you have excelled them all."

Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting;

the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Give her a reward of her labors,

and let her works praise her at the city gates.

The Word of the Lord

(OT - 6)

To everything there is a time and a season

ECC 3: 1-8, 11

A reading from the book of Ecclesiastes

There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. 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 be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. God has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without men's ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done.

The Word of the Lord

Longer Form

(OT - 7)

He accepted them as a holocaust.

WIS 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 was 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.

Shorter Form

He accepted them as a holocaust.

WIS 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 was 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.

(OT - 8)

A blameless life is a ripe old age

WIS 4:  7-15

A reading from the book of Wisdom

The 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.

Because grace and mercy are with His holy ones,

and His care is with His elect.

The Word of the Lord

(OT - 9)

Their name lives on and on

Sir 44: 1, 10-15

A reading from the Book of Sirach

Now will I praise those godly men, our ancestors, each in his own time: these also were godly men whose virtues have not been forgotten; Their wealth remains in their families, their heritage with their descendants; Through God's covenant with them their family endures, their posterity, for their sake. And for all time their progeny will endure, their glory will never be blotted out; Their bodies are peacefully laid away, but their name lives on and on. At gatherings their wisdom is retold, and the assembly proclaims their praise.

The Word of the Lord

(OT - 10)

The Lord God will destroy death for ever

IS 25: 6a,7-9

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah

On this mountain the Lord of hosts

will provide for all peoples.

On this mountain he will destroy

the veil that veils all peoples,

The web that is woven over all nations;

He will destroy death forever.

The Lord God will wipe away

the tears from all faces;

The reproach of his people he will remove

from the whole 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 and be glad that he has saved us!"

The Word of the Lord

(OT - 11)

It is good to wait in silence for the Lord God to save

LAM 3: 17-26

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 will I 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 Lord.

(OT - 12)

Of those who lie sleeping in the dust of the earth many will awake

DN 12: 1 - 3

A reading from the book of the prophet Daniel

(I, Daniel mourned and I heard this word of the Lord)

"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,

others shall be an everlasting horror and 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 stars forever."

The Word of the Lord.

(NT - 1)

God has appointed Jesus to judge everyone

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

Shorter Form

God has appointed Jesus to judge everyone

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 -2)

Having been justified by his blood, we will be saved from God's anger through him

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 - 3)

However great the number of sins grace was greater

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

Longer Form

(NT - 4)

Let us walk in newness of life

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

Shorter Form

Let us walk in the newness of life.

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 - 5)

We wait for our bodies to be set free

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 - 9)

Death is swallowed up in victory

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 - 10)

What is seen is transitory; what is unseen is eternal

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 - 11)

We have an everlasting home in heaven

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 - 12)

Jesus will transfigure our bodies to be like His

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 - 13)

We shall stay with the Lord forever

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 - 14)

If we have died with Him, we will live with Him

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 - 15)

We shall see God as he really is

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 - 16)

We have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers and sisters

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 - 6)

Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ

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. 

The Word of the Lord

(NT - 7)

We belong to the Lord

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

Longer Form

(NT - 8)

All men will be brought to life in Christ.

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

 Shorter Form

All men will be brought to life in Christ.

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 - 17)

Happy are those who die in the Lord

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 - 18)

The dead have been judged according to their works  

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 - 19)  

There will be no more death

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

(Gospel - 1)

MATTHEW 5:1-12a

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew

When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.

The Gospel of the Lord

(Gospel - 2)

MATTHEW 11:25-30

Come to me...and I will give you rest

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew

On one occasion Jesus spoke thus:, "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 your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

The Gospel of the Lord

(Gospel - 3)

MATTHEW 25:1-13

Look the bridegroom comes.  Go out to meet him

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: "The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise ones replied, 'No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.' While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, 'Lord, Lord, open the door for us!' But he said in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.' Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

The Gospel of the Lord

(Gospel - 4)

MATTHEW 25:31-46

Come, you whom my father has blessed

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and