Old Testament Readings Typically Chosen
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2 Maccabees 12:43-46 A Reading from the Second Book of Maccabees He 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 in mind; for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. 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 absolved from their sin. The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. Daniel 12:1, 2a,3 A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel In those days, I, Daniel, mourned and 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 the nation 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. Those with insight 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. All: Thanks be to God. Daniel 12:1-3 A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel In those days, I, Daniel, mourned and 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 the nation 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 to everlasting life, others to reproach and everlasting disgrace. But those with insight 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. All: Thanks be to God. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 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 give birth, 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. The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11 A reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: A time for giving birth, a time for dying; A time for planting, a time for uprooting what has been planted. A time for killing and a time for healing; A time for knocking down, a time for building; A time for tears, a time for laughter; A time for mourning, a time for dancing. A time for throwing stones away, a time for gathering them up; A time for embracing, a time to refrain from embracing. A time for searching, a time for losing; A time for keeping, a time for throwing away. A time for tearing, a time for sewing; A time for keeping silent, a time for speaking. A time for loving, a time for hating; A time for war, a time for peace! God has made everything beautiful in its time. The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 12 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 give birth, 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. I recognized that there is nothing better than to rejoice and to do well during life. The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. Ecclesiastes 3:1-12 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 give birth, 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. What profit have workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given mortals to be busied about. God has made everything appropriate to its time, but has put the timeless into their hearts so they cannot find out, from beginning to end, the work which God has done. I recognized that there is nothing better than to rejoice and to do well during life. The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. Ezekiel 36:24-27 A reading from the Book of Ezekiel Thus says the Lord GOD: I will take you away from among the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you back to your own soil. I will sprinkle clean water over you to make you clean; from all your impurities and from all your idols I will cleanse you. I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you so that you walk in my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep them. The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. Isaiah 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. All: Thanks be to God. Isaiah 41:10-13 A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah Do not fear: I am with you; do not be anxious: I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. Yes, all shall be put to shame and disgrace who vent their anger against you; Those shall be as nothing and perish who offer resistance. You shall seek but not find those who strive against you; They shall be as nothing at all who do battle with you. For I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, Do not fear, I will help you. The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. Isaiah 49:1-4 A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah Hear me, coastlands, listen, distant peoples. Before birth the LORD called me, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. He made my mouth like a sharp-edged sword, concealed me, shielded by his hand. He made me a sharpened arrow, in his quiver he hid me.