Funeral Readings - First Readings
A reading from the book of Job
Job said:
'Ah, would that these words of mine were written down,
inscribed on some monument
with iron chisel and engraving tool,
cut into the rock forever.
This I know: that my Avenger lives,
and he, the Last will take his stand on earth.
After my waking, he will set me close to him,
and from my flesh I shall look on God.
He whom I shall see will take my part:
these eyes will gaze on him and find him not aloof.'
This is the word of the Lord.
A reading from the book of Wisdom
The souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God,
no torment shall ever touch them.
In the eyes of the unwise, they did appear to die,
their going looked like a disaster,
their leaving us like annihilation;
but they are in peace.
If they experienced punishment as men see it,
their hope was rich with immortality;
slight was their affliction, great will their blessings be.
God has put them to the test
and proved them worthy to be with him;
he has tested them like gold in a furnace,
and accepted them as a holocaust.
They who trust in him will understand the truth,
those who are faithful will live with him in love;
for grace and mercy await those he has chosen.
This is the word of the Lord
A reading from the book of Wisdom
The virtuous man, though he die before his time, will find rest.
Length of days is not what makes age honourable, nor number of years the true measure of life;
understanding, this is man’s grey hairs, untarnished life, this is ripe old age.
He has sought to please God, so God has loved him;
and he was living among sinners, he has been taken up.
He has been carried off so that evil may not warp his understanding or treachery seduce his soul;
for the fascination of evil throws good things into the shade,
and the whirlwind of desire corrupts a simple heart.
Coming to perfection in so short a while, he achieved long life;
his soul being pleasing to the Lord,
he has taken him quickly from the wickedness around him.
Yet people look on, uncomprehending;
it does not enter their heads
that grace and mercy await the chosen of the Lord,
and protection, his holy ones.
This is the word of the Lord.
A reading from the prophet Isaiah
On this mountain, the Lord of hosts will prepare for all the peoples a banquet of rich food.
On this mountain he will remove the mourning veil covering all the peoples, and the shroud enwrapping all nations, he will destroy Death for ever.
The Lord will wipe away the tears from every cheek; he will take away his people's shame everywhere on earth, for the Lord has said so.
That day, it will be said: See, this is our God in whom we hoped for salvation; the Lord is the one in whom we hoped.
We exult and we rejoice that he has saved us.
This is the word of the Lord.
A reading from the book of Lamentations
My soul is shut out from peace;
I have forgotten happiness.
And now I say, ' My strength is gone,
that hope which came from the Lord'.
brooding on my anguish and affliction
is gall and wormwood.
My spirit ponders it continually
and sinks within me.
This is what I shall tell my heart,
and so recover hope:
the favours of the Lord are not all past,
his kindnesses are not exhausted;
every morning they are renewed;
great is his faithfulness.
'My portion is the Lord' says my soul
and so I will hope in him.'
The Lord is good to those who trust him,
to the soul that searches for him.
It is good to wait in silence
for the Lord to save.
This is the word of the Lord.
A reading from the prophet Daniel
I, Daniel, was doing penance when I received this message from the Lord:
'At that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who mounts
guard over your people. There is going to be a time of great distress
unparalleled since the nations first came into existence. When that time
comes , your own people will be spared, all those whose names are
found written in the Book. Of those who lie sleeping in the dust of the
earth many will awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and
everlasting disgrace. The learned will shine as brightly as the vault of
heaven, and those who have instructed many in virtue, as bright as
stars for all eternity.'
This is the word of the Lord.
Reading from the second book of Maccabees
Judas, the leader of the Jews, took collectionn from the people
individually, amounting to nearly two thousand drachmae, and sent
it to Jerusalem to have a sacrafice for sin offered, an together fine
and noble action, in which he took full account of the ressurection. For
if he had not expected the fallen to rise again it would have been
superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead, whereas if he had in view
the splendid recompense reserved for those who make a pious end, the
thought was holy and devout. This is why he had atonement
sacrifice offered for the dead, so that they might be released from their
sin.
This is the word of the Lord.
