FUNERAL LECTIONARY ST. JOHN THE BELOVED CATHOLIC CHURCH 6420 LINWAY TERRACE MCLEAN, VIRGINIA To assist your planning please select one reading from each category, and, where applicable, indicate whether you would like the shorter form of the reading. It is preferable for the Responsorial Psalm to be sung by a cantor. Please indicate the name(s) of the Lector(s). Serving as a Lector at a Catholic Mass is limited to practicing Catholics. For their own comfort and for the congregation’s benefit as well, it is recommended that the Lector be selected from among those who already serve as a Lector in their own parish. You need not have more than one reader. The Gospel is always proclaimed by a deacon if one is present, otherwise a concelebrating priest would do so. If there are none, the priest offering Mass proclaims the Gospel. The Prayers of the Faithful which appear at the end can be amended and expanded as needed. If a Deacon is present, he is required to read the Prayers of the Faithful. † OLD TESTAMENT READING (# ) LECTOR † RESPONSORIAL PSALM (# ) CANTOR/LECTOR † NEW TESTAMENT READING (# ) LECTOR † GOSPEL READING (# ) DEACON/PRIEST † PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL (# ) DEACON/LECTOR Please choose from among the following approved readings. During the Easter Season, the first reading comes from the Acts of the Apostles or The Book of Revelation from New Testament (Readings 1, 17, 18, or 19 in the “Reading II” section) instead of one of the readings from the Old Testament. Reading I from the OT Reading II from the NT 1. Job 19,1.23-27a 1. Acts 10,34-43 or 10,34-36.42-43 2. Wisdom 3,1-9 or 3,1-6.9 2. Romans 5,5-11 3. Wisdom 4,7-14 3. Romans 5,17-21 4. Isaiah 25,6a.7-9 4. Romans 6,3-9 or 6,3-4.8-9 5. Lamentations 3,17-26 5. Romans 8,14-23 6. Daniel 12,1-3 6. Romans 8,31b-35.37-39 7. 2 Maccabees 12,43-46 7. Romans 14,7-9.10c-12 8. 1 Corinthians 15,20-24a.25-28 or 15,20-23 Reading I from the NT 9. 1 Corinthians 15,51-57 during the Season of Easter 10. 2 Corinthians 4,14-5,1 11. 2 Corinthians 5,1.6-10 1. Acts 10,34-43 or 10,34-36.42-43 12. Philippians 3,20-21 2. Revelation 14,13 13. 1 Thessalonians 4,13-18 3. Revelation 20,11-21,1 14. 2 Timothy 2,8-13 4. Revelation 21,1-5a.6b-7 15. 1 John 3,1-2 16. 1 John 3,14-16 Responsorial Psalm 17. Revelation 14,13 18. Revelation 20,11-21,1 1. Psalm 23,1-3.4.5.6 19. Revelation 21,1-5a.6b-7 2. Psalm 25,6.7bc.17-18.20-21 3. Psalm 27,1.4.7.8b.9a.13-14 Gospel 4. Psalm 42,2.3.5cdef; Psalm 43,3.4.5 5. Psalm 63,2.3-4.5-6.8-9 1. Matthew 5,1-12a 6. Psalm 103,8.10.13-14.15-16.17-18 2. Matthew 11,25-30 7. Psalm 116,5.6.10-11.15-16ac 3. Matthew 25,1-13 8. Psalm 122 4. Matthew 25,31-46 9. Psalm 130,1-2.3-4.5-6ab.6c-7.8 5. Mark 15,33-39; 16,1-6 or 15,33-39 10. Psalm 143,1-2.5-6.7ab.8ab.10 6. Luke 7,11-17 7. Luke 12,35-40 8. Luke 23,33.39-43 9. Luke 23,44-46.50.52-53; 24,1-6a or 23,44-46.50.52-53 10. Luke 24,13-35 or 24,13-16.28-35 11. John 5,24-29 12. John 6,37-40 13. John 6,51-58 14. John 11,17-27 or 11,21-27 15. John 11,32-45 16. John 12,23-28 or 12,23-26 2 17. John 14,1-6 18. John 17,24-26 19. John 19,17-18.25-29 3 FIRST READINGS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT 1. Job 19,1.23-27a 2. Wisdom 3,1-9 or 3,1-6.9 3. Wisdom 4,7-14 4. Isaiah 25,6a.7-9 5. Lamentations 3,17-26 6. Daniel 12,1-3 7. 2 Maccabees 12,43-46 1. 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. V. The Word of the Lord. R. Thanks Be to God. 5 2. (long) 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 the elect. V. The Word of the Lord. R. Thanks Be to God. 6 2. (short) 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 the elect. V. The Word of the Lord. R. Thanks Be to God. 7 3. Wisdom 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. V. The Word of the Lord. R. Thanks Be to God. 8 4. 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!” V. The Word of the Lord. R. Thanks Be to God. 9 5. Lamentations 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.