A reading from the book of Wisdom 4:7-15
But the virtuous man, though he die before his time, will find rest. Length of days is not what makes age honourable, nor number of years the true measure of life; understanding, this is man’s grey hairs, untarnished life, this is ripe old age. He has sought to please God, so God has loved him; as he was living among sinners, he has been taken up; he has been carried off so that evil may not warp his understanding or treachery seduce his soul.
For the fascination of evil throws good things into the shade, and the whirlwind of desire corrupts a simple heart. Coming to perfection in so short a while, he achieved long life; his soul being pleasing to the Lord, he has hurried away from the wickedness around him. Yet people look on, uncomprehending; it does not enter their heads that grace and mercy await the chosen of the Lord, and protection, his holy ones.
PSALM 42: Longing for the temple
- my soul thirsts for God, the living God: when shall I go and behold the face of God?
Like the deer that yearns
for running streams,
so my soul is yearning
for you, my God;
- my soul thirsts for God, the living God: when shall I go and behold the face of God?
my soul is thirsting for God,
the God of my life:
when shall I go and behold
the face of God?
- my soul thirsts for God, the living God: when shall I go and behold the face of God?
and pour out my soul within me:
how I would lead the throng,
on to the house of God,
amid cries of gladness and thanksgiving,
the throng wild with joy.
- my soul thirsts for God, the living God: when shall I go and behold the face of God?
O send forth your light and your truth;
let these be my guide,
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.
- my soul thirsts for God, the living God: when shall I go and behold the face of God?
And I will come to the altar of God,
the God of my joy;
my redeemer, I will thank you on the harp,
O God, my God.
- my soul thirsts for God, the living God: when shall I go and behold the face of God?
Why are you cast down, my soul,
why groan within me?
Hope in God; I will praise him still:
«my saviour and my God».
- my soul thirsts for God, the living God: when shall I go and behold the face of God?
A reading from the letter of the apostle Saint Paul to the Romans 5:5-11
Brothers: Hope does not disappoint us, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Indeed, when we were still helpless, at the appointed time, Christ died for the godless; in truth, it is hardly anyone who would die for a just man; for a good man someone might perhaps dare to die; but the proof that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. How much more, then, now that we have been justified by his blood, shall we be saved by him from God’s anger! If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, how much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life! And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now obtained reconciliation. The word of the Lord.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint John (12)
«The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
I tell you most solemnly, unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If a man serves me, he must follow me, and where I am, my servant will be there too; if anyone serves me, my Father will honour him. And where I am, my servant will be there too. The word of the Lord.
Machine translation. If you spot a mistake, do write to us.