Suggested Readings
Usually there are three readings during the Funeral Mass. One from the Old Testament (during Easter season selections are from the New Testament), a second from the New Testament (Epistles), and the third, the Gospel reading proclaimed by the presiding priest or deacon.
Click on the links below to read the Scripture readings in PDF format.
First Reading:
2 Maccabees 12:43-46 “He acted in an excellent and noble way as he had the resurrection of the dead in view”
Job 19:1, 23-27 “I Know That My Redeemer Lives”
Wisdom 3:1-9 (long form) “He Accepted Them As A Holocaust”
Wisdom 4:7-15 “A Blameless Life Is A Ripe Old Age”
Isaiah 25: 6. 7-9 “The Lord God Will Destroy Death Forever”
Lamentations 3:17-26 “It Is Good To Wait In Silence For The Lord God To Save”
Daniel 12:1-3 “Of Those Who Lie Sleeping In The Dust Of The Earth Many Will Awake”
During the Season of Easter the following readings can be selected.
Acts of the Apostles 10:34-43 (long form) “God Has Appointed Jesus To Judge Everyone, Alive Or Dead”
Acts of the Apostles 10:34-36. 42-43 (short form)
Revelation 14:13 “Happy Are Those Who Die In The Lord”
Revelation 20:11-21:1 “The Dead Have Been Judged According To Their Works”
Revelation 21:1-5. 6-7 “There Will Be No More Death”
Second Reading
Romans 5:5-11 “…We know that affliction makes for endurance…”
Romans 5:17-21 “…Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more…”
Romans 6:3-9 (long) “…We too might live in newness of life…”
Romans 8:14-23 “…We also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies…”
Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39 “…What will separate us from the love of Christ?…”
Romans 14:7-9, 10c-12 “…Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s…”
1 Corinthians 15:20-28 (long) “…So too in Christ shall all be brought to life…”
1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (short)
1 Corinthians 15:51-57 “…Death is swallowed up in victory…”
2 Corinthians 4:14-5:1 “…What is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal…”
2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-10 “…We have a building from God, eternal in heaven…”
Philippians 3:20-21 “…He will change our lowly bodies to conform to his glory…”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “…Thus we shall always be with the Lord…”
2 Timothy 2:8-13 “…If we have died with him we shall also live with him…”
1 John 3:1-2 “…We shall see him as he is…”
1 John 3:14-16 “…We know that we have passed from death to life…”
Gospel Reading
Matthew 5:1-12a “The Beatitudes”
Matthew 11:25-30 “come to me . . . and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 25:1-13 “Look. The bridegroom comes. Go out to meet him”
Matthew 25:31-46 “Come, you whom my Father has blessed”
Mark 15:33-39; 16:1-6 (long version) “Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last”
Mark 13:33-39 (short version) “Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last”
Luke 7:11-17 “Young man, I say to you, arise!”
Luke 12:35-40 “Be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect…”
Luke 20:33, 39-43 “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:44-24:6a (long version) “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Luke 23:44-46, 50, 52-53 (short version) “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Luke 24:13-35 (long version) “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer…”
Luke 24:13-35 (short version) “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer…”
John 5:24-29 “Whoever hears my word and believes has passed from death to life…”
John 6:37-40 “All who believe in the Son will have eternal life…”
John 6:51-58 “All who eat this bread will live for ever….”
John 11:17-27 (long version) “I am the resurrection and the life.”
John 11:21-27 (short version) “I am the resurrection and the life.”
John 11:32-45 “Lazarus, come out!”
John 12:23-28 (long version) “If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies…”
John 12:23-26 (short version) “If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies…”
John 14:1-6 “In my Father’s house there are many dwellings.”
John 17:24-26 “I wish that where I am they also may be with me…”
John 19:17-18, 25-39 “And bowing his head he handed over his Spirit.”