First Reading

First reading

Reading from the Book of Wisdom

Wisdom 3, 1-9

The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God
and no torment will ever touch them.
The foolish thought that the righteous had died,
that their departure from this world was a misfortune
and their going from us, utter destruction.
But the righteous are at peace.

People thought their sufferings were a punishment,
but they had placed their hope in immortality.
After brief suffering
they will receive a great reward,
for God tested them
and found them worthy of himself.
He tested them like gold in a furnace
and accepted them as a pleasing sacrifice.

In the day of judgment the righteous will shine
like sparks that run through the stubble.
They will judge the nations and rule over the peoples,
and the Lord will reign over them forever.

Those who trust in the Lord will understand truth
and those who are faithful to his love will abide with him,
because God loves his chosen ones and cares for them.

Second reading

Reading from the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Romans

Romans 5, 5-11

Brothers and sisters: Hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Indeed, while we were still helpless, Christ died for the ungodly at the appointed time. Rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to John

John 6, 37-40

At that time, Jesus said to the crowd: “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away, for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.”