FIRST
READING: Wisdom
3: 1 - 9
1
But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment
will ever touch them.
2
In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their
departure was thought to be an affliction,
3
and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at
peace.
4
For though in the sight of men they were punished, their hope is full
of immortality.
5
Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,
because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;
6
like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt
offering he accepted them.
7
In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run
like sparks through the stubble.
8
They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will
reign over them for ever.
9
Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will
abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his elect,
and he watches over his holy ones.
PSALM:
Psalms 27:
1, 4, 7 - 9, 13 - 14
1
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is
the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
4
One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I
may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold
the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
7
Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!
8
Thou hast said, "Seek ye my face." My heart says to thee,
"Thy face, LORD, do I seek."
9
Hide not thy face from me. Turn not thy servant away in anger, thou
who hast been my help. Cast me not off, forsake me not, O God of my
salvation!
13
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of
the living!
14
Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea,
wait for the LORD!
SECOND
READING: Romans
5: 5 - 11
5
and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured
into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.
6
While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the
ungodly.
7
Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man -- though perhaps for a
good man one will dare even to die.
8
But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners
Christ died for us.
9
Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall
we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
10
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death
of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved
by his life.
11
Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus
Christ, through whom we have now received our reconciliation.
GOSPEL:
John 11:
17 - 27
17
Now when Jesus came, he found that Laz'arus had already been in the
tomb four days.
18
Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off,
19
and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them
concerning their brother.
20
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while
Mary sat in the house.
21
Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother
would not have died.
22
And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give
you."
23
Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
24
Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the
resurrection at the last day."
25
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who
believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
26
and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe
this?"
27
She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ,
the Son of God, he who is coming into the world."
