New Testament Readings

Think of the love that the Father has shown us by letting us be called God’s children; and that is what we are. Because the world refused to acknowledge him, therefore it does not acknowledge us. My dear people, we are already the children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; all we know is that when it is revealed, we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is. This is the Word of the Lord.

2. A Reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans.(8: 31-35, 37-39)

With God on our side, who can be against us? Since God did not spare his only Son, but gave him up to benefit us all, we may be certain after such a gift, that he will not refuse anything he can give. Could anyone accuse those that God has chosen? When God acquits, could anyone condemn? Could Christ Jesus? No! He not only died for us- he rose from the dead, and there at God’s right hand he stands and pleads for us. Nothing, therefore, can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loves us. For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, nor height, nor depth, not any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible through Christ Jesus our Lord. This is the Word of the Lord.

3. A Reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians (4: 4-9)

We want you to be quite certain, sisters and brothers, about those who have died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like the other people who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus; God will bring them with him. We can tell you this from the Lord’s own teaching that any of us who are left alive until the Lord’s coming will not have any advantage over those who have died. With thoughts such as these you should comfort one another. This is the Word of the Lord.

4. A Reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (13: 4-14)

Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope and patience never fail. Love is eternal. There are inspired messages, but they are temporary; there are gifts of speaking in strange tongues, but they will cease; there is knowledge, but it will pass. For our gifts of knowledge and of inspired messages are only partial; but when what is perfect comes, then what is partial will disappear. When I was a child, my speech, feelings and thinking were all those of a child; now that I am an adult, I have no more use for childish ways. What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. What I know now is only partial; then it will be complete as God’s knowledge of me. Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love. This is the Word of the Lord.

5. A Reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Phillipians (4:4-9)

May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. Rejoice! Show a gentle attitude towards everyone. The Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers, ask God for what you need, always asking Him with a thankful heart. And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus. In conclusion, my sisters and brothers, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and honourable. Put into practice what you have learnt and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you. This is the Word of the Lord.

6. A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (10: 34-36)

Peter addressed Cornelius and his household: “The truth I have now come to realise,” he said, “is that God does not have favourites, but that anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him. It is true, God sent his word to the people of Israel, and it was to them that the good news of peace was brought by Jesus Christ – but Jesus Christ is Lord of all people, and he has ordered us to proclaim this to his people and to tell them that God has appointed him to judge everyone, alive or dead. It is to him that all the prophets bear this witness: that all who believe in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name.” This is the Word of the Lord.

7. A Reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (1: 4-9)

I always thank God for you because of his grace given to you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way – in all your speaking and in all your knowledge, because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ – God who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord is faithful. This is the Word of the Lord.

8. A Reading from the Book of Revelations (21: 1-5)

Then I saw a new earth and a new sky, for the present earth and sky has disappeared. And I, John, saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. It was a glorious sight, beautiful as a bride at her wedding. I heard a loud shout from the throne saying, “Look, the home of God in now among men, and he will live with them, and they will be his people; yes, God himself will be among them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, or sorrow, or crying, or pain. All of that has gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” This is the Word of the Lord

9. A Reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans (14: 7-9)

The life and death of each of us has its influence on others; if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord; so that alive or dead, we belong to the Lord. This explains why Christ both died and came to life. It was so that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. This is the Word of the Lord.