Suggested Liturgical Scriptural Readings for Funerals

Here is a list of scriptural readings from the Lectionary for Mass. The selections suggested for Masses for the Dead have been augmented by a number of additional selections.

The list gives the bible reference, and the key phrase. One may find the complete texts at:http://www.usccb.org/bible/books-of-the-bible/index.cfm I hope this will be of help for mourners, preachers and liturgy committees.

Usually there are three readings. One from the Old Testament, a second from the New Testament (Epistles), and the third, the Gospel reading.

  Old Testament Readings Ref.#
1 Job 19:1, 23-27 "...I know that my Vindicator lives..." 789,1
2 Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 "...A time to be born, a time to die..." 453
3 Ecclesiastes 11:9--12:8 "...Before the silver cord is snapped..." 454
4 Song of Solomon 2:8-14   "...Arise my beloved, my beautiful one, and come!..." 198
5 Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23f "...God did not make death, nor does he rejoice..." 99
6 Wisdom 3:1-9 "...The souls of the just are in the hand of God..." 84
7 Wisdom 4:7-15 "...The just man, though he die early, shall be at rest..." 85
8 Sirach 1:1-10 "...All wisdom comes from the Lord..." 341
9 Sirach 2:1-11 "...in fire gold is tested....Compassionate is the Lord..." 342
10 Sirach 44:1, 10-15 "...Now will I praise those godly men,... 606
11 Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9 "...he will destroy death forever..." 789,4
12 Isaiah 26:7-19 "...your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise..." 392
13 Isaiah 35:1-10 "...Here is your God, he comes with vindication..." 182
14 Isaiah 40:1-11 "Comfort...to my people..." 183
15 Isaiah 40:25-31 "...Though youths stagger and fall...they will soar..." 184
16 Jeremiah 17:5-10 "...I, the Lord, alone probe the mind and test the heart..." 234
17 Lamentations 3:17-26 "...My portion is the Lord, says my soul..." 789,5
18 Ezekiel 37:12-14 "O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise..." 34
19 Daniel 12:1-3 "...the wise shall shine brightly..." 789,6
20 Micah 7:7-9 "...though I sit in darkness, the Lord is my light..." 244
21 Zephaniah 3:14-18 "...Shout for joy...the Lord has removed the judgment..." 9
22 Malachi 3:13-20 "...And a record book was written before him..." 464
23 2 Maccabees 12:43-46 "...he made atonement for the dead..." 789,7
   
  New Testament Readings Ref.#
1 Romans 5:1-5 "...We know that affliction makes for endurance..." 167
2 Romans 8:1-11 "...he...will bring your mortal bodies to life..." 478
3 Romans 8:26-30 "...God makes all things work together for the good..." 481
4 Romans 10:8-13 " No one who believes in him will be put to shame..." 24
5 Romans 11:33-36 "...How deep are the riches and the wisdom...of God..." 122
6 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 "God's folly is wiser than men,...weakness, more powerful" 29
7 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 "...Let him who would boast, boast in the Lord... 430
8 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 ...Eye has not seen, ear..heard...what God has prepared.." 77
9 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 "...if Christ was not raised, your faith is worthless..." 79
10 2 Corinthians 4:6-10 "...this treasure we possess in earthen vessels..." 87
11 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 ...The old order has passed away; now all is new!" 603
12 Ephesians 1:3-10 "...he likewise predestined us...to be his sons..." 105
13 Ephesians 1:11-14 "...In Christ we were chosen..." 471
14 Ephesians 2:4-10 "...By this favor you were saved... not your own doing" 32
15 Philippians 3:8-14 "...I run toward the prize to which God calls me..." 36
16 Colossians 3:1-4 "...After all, you have died! Your life is hidden now..." 43
17 Colossians 3:12-24 "...you will receive an inheritance from him..." 785,11
18 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 "...We belong neither to darkness nor to night..." 432
19 2 Timothy 1:8-10 "Bear your share of the hardship...He has robbed death..." 25
20 2 Timothy 4:6-18 "... I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race.." 591
21 Titus 2:11-14 "...he who sacrificed himself for us, to redeem us..." 15
22 Titus 3:4-7 "...he saved us, not because of any righteous deeds..." 15
23 Hebrews 4:12-16 "...Nothing is concealed from him;...let us hold fast..." 310
24 Hebrews 5:7-9 "...he learned obedience from what he suffered..." 35
25 Hebrews 12:18-24 "...you have drawn near to...the heavenly Jerusalem..." 121
26 James 5:7-10 "Be patient,...until the coming of the Lord..." 7
27 1 Peter 1:3-9 "...you may for a time have to suffer...faith...fire-tried gold" 44
28 2 Peter 3:12-17 "...Look for the coming of the day of God..." 354
29 1 John 5:1-5 "...Who, then, is conqueror of the world?..." 560
30 Revelation 22:12ff "...I am the Alpha and the Omega....Come, Lord Jesus..." 62
   
  Gospel Readings Ref.#
1 Matthew 5:1-12a "The Eight Beatitudes" 128
2 Matthew 11:25-30 "come to me . . . and I will give you rest." 129
3 Matthew 18:19-20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name" 
4 Matthew 25:1-13 "Look. The bridegroom comes. Go out to meet him" 130
5 Matthew 25:31-46 "Come, you whom my Father has blessed" 131
6 Mark 10:13-16 "Let the children come to me"  
7 Mark 13:33-37 "...you do not know when the appointed time will come." 3
9 Mark 15:33-46   "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  
10 Mark 15:33--16:6 "Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last" 132
11 Luke 7:11-17 "Young man, I say to you, arise." 133
12 Luke 12:35-40 "Be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,..." 134
13 Luke 20:34-38 "They can no longer die, for they are like angels"  
14 Luke 23:33-43 "Today you will be with me in paradise." 135
15 Luke 23:44--24:6a "Father, I put my life in your hands." 136
16 Luke 24:13-35 "Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer..." 137
17 Luke 24:13-35 "Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer..." 137
18 John 5:24-29 "Whoever hears my word and believes has passed from..."
19 John 6:37-40 "All who believe in the Son will have eternal life..." 138
20 John 6:51-58 "All who eat this bread will live for ever...." 139
21 John 11:17-27 "I am the resurrection and the life." 140
22 John 11:32-45 "Lazarus, come out." 141
23 John 12:23-28 "If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies..." 142
24 John 14:1-6 "There are many rooms in my Father's house." 143
25 John 17:24-26 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me..." 144
26 John 19:17-30 "Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirits." 

Find the complete texts at:http://www.usccb.org/bible/books-of-the-bible/index.cfm