Planning a Funeral Mass

1st Reading ~ Pick one reading from the Old Testament Readings

I know that my Redeemer lives.

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 in most being is consumed with longing.

This is the Word of the Lord.

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 his elect.

The word of the Lord

He accepted them as a holocaust

Shorter form:

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 in the eyes of 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

A blameless life is a ripe old age.

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 for 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.

The word of the Lord

A blameless life is a ripe old age.

The just person, though they 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 ancient crown for people,

And a pure life, the attainment of old age.

They who pleased God was loved;

They who lived among sinner was transported-

Snatched away, lest pain and suffering pervert his mind

Or deceit lures his soul;

Having become perfect in a short while,

They reached the fullness of a long career;

For their soul was pleasing to the Lord,

Therefore He sped him out of the midst of pain and suffering,

But the people saw and did not understand,

nor did they take this into account.

This is the Word of the Lord

The Lord God will destroy death for ever.

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!"

This is the Word of the Lord

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

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

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

[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 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

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

Judas, the ruler of Israel, 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

The Ideal Woman

When one finds a worthy woman

Her value is far beyond Pearls

Her husband, entrusting his heart to her,

Has an unfailing prize.

She is girt about with strength

And sturdy are her arms.

She enjoys the success others dealings,

At night her lamp is undimmed.

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.

Her children rise up to praise her,

Her husband too extols her.

"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

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 up.

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 let go.

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 advantage has the worker from their toil?
I have considered the task which GOD has appointed for us to be busied about.
He has made everything appropriate to it's time, and has put the timeless into our hearts, without ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done.
I recognize that everything has been made appropriate to it's time. He has also set eternity in our hearts, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. I know that there is nothing better for us than to rejoice and do good in our lifetime; moreover, that every person who eats and drinks sees good in all their labor, is the gift from God

The word of the LORD

2nd Reading - Pick one reading from the New Testament

During Easter season, reading 1, 17, 18 or 19 is used as the first reading instead of a reading from the Old Testament.

God has appointed Jesus to judge everyone. Alive and dead.

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 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. Alive and dead.

Peter proceeded to address the people in thesewords:

“In truth, I see that Godshows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and actsuprightly is acceptable to him. You know the word that he sent to theIsraelites as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. He commissioned us to preach to the people and testifythat he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To himall the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receiveforgiveness of sins through his name.

The word of the Lord.

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

Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find the 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 from 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

Where sin increased, there grace abounded all the more.

If, by the transgression of the one, death came to reign through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of justification come to reign in life through the oneJesus Christ. In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so, through one righteous act, acquittal and life came to all. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of the one the many will be made righteous. The law entered in so that transgression might increase, but where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through justification for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The word of the Lord

Let us walk in the newness of life.

Are you aware that we who are 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:

We groan while we wait for redemption of our bodies

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive 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 of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also 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 to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set 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 first fruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

The word of the Lord

Who can ever come between us and the love of Christ?

If God is for us, who can be against us? He did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring 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 things, we conquer 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, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The word of the Lord

Whether alive or dead, we belong to the Lord

None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For this is whyChrist died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Why then do you judge your brother? Or you, why do you look down on your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written: As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall give praise to God. So then each of us shall give an accounting of himself to God.

The word of the Lord

All people will be brought to life in Christ

Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead came also through man. 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 first fruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death, for "he subjected everything under his feet." But when it says that everything has been subjected, it is clear that it excludes the one who subjected everything to him. When everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.

The word of the Lord

Shorter form:

Death is swallowed up in victory

Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in an instant, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For that which is corruptible must clothe itself with incorruptibility, and that which is mortal must clothe itself with immortality. And when this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility, and this, which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about:

Death is swallowed up in victory.

Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The word of the Lord

What is seen is transitory; what is unseen is eternal

Knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also withJesus 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, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.

The word of the Lord

We have an everlasting home in heaven.

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.

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 may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.

The word of the Lord

We shall stay with the Lord forever.

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, 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

If we have died with him, we shall live with him.

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my Gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore,I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they may obtain the salvation that is in Jesus Christ, together with eternal glory. This saying is trustworthy:

If we have died with him

we shall also live with him;

if we persevere

we shall also reign with him.

But if we deny him

he will deny us.

If we are unfaithful

he remains faithful,

for he cannot deny himself.

The word of the Lord

The dead have been judged according to their works.

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.

There will be no more death.

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. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.” The One who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water.

The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son.”

The word of the Lord.

Psalm 23

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Or

R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

In verdant pastures he gives me repose;

Beside restful waters he leads me;

he refreshes my soul. R.

He guides me in right paths

for his name's sake.

Even though I walk in the dark valley

I fear no evil; for you are at my side

With your rod and your staff

that give me courage. R.

You spread the table before me

in the sight of my foes;

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows. R.

Only goodness and kindness follow me

all the days of my life;

And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

for years to come. R.

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