Funeral Planning

 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 they are going forth from us, utter destruction.

But they are in peace. 

For if before man, 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 offering 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.

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah

On this mountain the LORD of hosts 

will provide for all peoples

A feast of rich food and choice wines

 juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.

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!”

A reading from the book of Revelation 

I heard a voice from heaven say,

“Write this: Blessed are the dead

who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Yes,” said the Spirit, “let them

find rest from their labors,

for their good deeds accompany them.”

A reading from the book of Revelation

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.”

A reading from the book of Sirach

A father’s blessing gives a person firm roots. 

A father’s glory is glory also for oneself;

my children,

be steadfast in honoring your father; 

do not grieve him as long as he lives.

For kindness to a father will not be forgotten;

it will serve as a sin offering - 

it will take lasting root.  

In time of trouble it will be recalled

 to your advantage, 

like warmth upon frost it will melt away

your sins.

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 rises while it is still night and

distributes food to her household.  

She is girt about with strength

and sturdy are her arms.  

She enjoys the success of her dealings;

at night her lamp is undimmed.  

She puts her hands to the distaff,

and her fingers to ply the spindle.  

She reaches out her hands to the poor,

and extends her arms to the needy.  

She fears not the snow for her household;

all her charges are doubly clothed.  

Her husband is prominent at the city gate

 as he sits with the elders of the land.  

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 eats not her food in idleness.  

Her children rise up and praise her;

her husband, too, extols her.  

“Many are the women of proven worth,

but you have excelled them all”.  

Give her the reward of her labors, and let

her works praise her at the city gates.

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans

Brothers and sisters:

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. 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.

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans

Brothers and sisters:

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 dies, 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 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.

A reading from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians

Brothers and sisters:

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, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians

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 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.

A Reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians

If I speak in human and angelic tongues* but do not have love, 

I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.  

And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; 

if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.

If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast

but do not have love, I gain nothing. 

It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. 

Love never fails. So faith, hope and love remain, but the greatest of these is love.

Love never fails.

At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but the face to face.  

At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.  

So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 

A reading from the Second Letter of St. Paul to Timothy

Beloved,

       Be self-possessed in all circumstances; 

       put up with hardship; 

       perform the work of an evangelist; 

       fulfill your ministry.  

For I am already being poured out like a libation, 

       and the time of my departure is at hand.  

I have competed well;

I have finished the race; 

I kept the faith.  

From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, 

        which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, 

        and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. 

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew

When Jesus 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."

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 he 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 yourselves.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples:

“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.”

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John

Jesus said to the crowds:

“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,

and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,

because I came down from heaven not to do my own will

but the will of the one who sent me.

And this is the will of the one who sent me,

that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,

but that I should raise it on the last day. 

For this is the will of my Father,

that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him

may have eternal life,

and I shall raise him on the last day.”

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John

Martha said to Jesus, 

   “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 

    But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”  

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” 

Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” 

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; 

whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,

    and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. 

    Do you believe this?” 

She said to him, “Yes, Lord.  I have come to believe 

      that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, 

     the one who is coming into the world.”

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.  

In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. 

If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, 

     so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.”

Thomas said to him, 

    “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”

Jesus said to him, 

“I am the way and the truth and the life. 

No one comes to the Father except through me.”