Suggested Gospels for Funerals

Gospel 1
Alleluia Alleluia!
“My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the
world was created.
Alleluia

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 19:16-18,25-30.
So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull
(which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on
each side and Jesus in the middle.
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary
Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he
said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time
on, this disciple took her into his home.
Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus
said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on
a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It
is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
This is the Gospel of the Lord

Gospel 2
Alleluia Alleluia!
My Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I am grateful that you hid all this from wise and educated
people and showed it to ordinary people.
Alleluia

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me; I will certainly not turn anyone away who
comes to me, because I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of him
who sent me.Now the will of him who sent me is that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to
me, but that I should raise it up on the last day. It is my Father’s will that whoever sees the Son and
believes in him should have eternal life, and that I should raise that person up on the last day.
This is the gospel of the Lord

Gospel 3
Alleluia Alleluia!
God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has
faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.
Alleluia
A reading from the holy gospel according to John. 6.51-58
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.
This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to
eat?”
Jesus said to them, “I tell you truly, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,
you have no life in you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.
Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will
live because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who
feeds on this bread will live forever.”
This is the gospel of the Lord

Gospel 4
Alleluia Alleluia!
I am that bread from heaven! Everyone who eats it will live forever. My flesh is the life-giving bread
that I give to the people of this world.
Alleluia
A reading from the holy gospel according to John 11.17-27
On arriving, Jesus found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days already. Bethany is only
about two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them
about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming she went to meet him. Mary
remained sitting in the house. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would
not have died, but even now I know that God will grant whatever you ask of him.’ Jesus said to her,
‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said, ‘I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the last
day.’Jesus said: I am the resurrection. Anyone who believes in me, even though that person dies, will
live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? ‘Yes, Lord,’ she said, ‘I
believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord

Gospel 5
Alleluia Alleluia!
Happy are those who hear the word, and keep it.
Alleluia
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes
so that it will be even more fruitful.
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.
Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit;
apart from me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches
are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands
and remain in his love.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Gospel 6
Alleluia Alleluia!
I am the resurrection and the life says the Lord:
whoever believes in me will never die
Alleluia
A reading from the holy gospel according to John
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary of Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother*
and the disciple there whom he loved, he
said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your
mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled,
Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked
in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,
“It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.
This is the Gospel of the Lord

Gospel 7
Alleluia Alleluia!
I am the resurrection and the life says the Lord:
whoever believes in me will never die
Alleluia
A reading from the holy gospel according to John
Jesus’ mother stood beside his cross with her sister and Mary the wife of Clopas. Mary Magdalene
was standing there too. When Jesus saw his mother and his favourite disciple with her, he said to his
mother, “This man is now your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “She is now your mother.” From
then on, that disciple took her into his own home.
Jesus knew that he had now finished his work. And in order to make the Scriptures come true, he
said, “I am thirsty!” A jar of wine was there. Someone then soaked a sponge with the wine and held
it up to Jesus’ mouth on the stem of a hyssop plant. After Jesus drank the wine, he said, “Everything
is done!” He bowed his head and died.
This is the gospel of the Lord

Gospel 8
Alleluia Alleluia!
I am the resurrection and the life says the Lord:
whoever believes in me will never die
Alleluia
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
When they reached the place called The Skull, there they crucified him and the two criminals, one on
his right, the other on his left.
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his
right, the other on his left.
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save
yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you
are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the
sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he
said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to
you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Gospel 9
Lent:
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
A pure heart create for me, O God,
and give me again the joy of your help.
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 23.44-45, 24.1-6
It was now about the sixth hour and the sun’s light failed, so that darkness came over the whole
land until the ninth hour. The veil of the Sanctuary was torn right down the middle. Jesus cried out
in a loud voice saying, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ With these words he breathed
his last.
This is the Gospel of the Lord

Gospel 10
Alleluia Alleluia!
I am the resurrection and the life says the Lord:
whoever believes in me will never die
Alleluia
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 23.44-45, 50-56, 24.1-6
It was now about the sixth hour and the sun’s light failed, so that darkness came over the whole
land until the ninth hour. The veil of the Sanctuary was torn right down the middle. Jesus cried out
in a loud voice saying, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ With these words he breathed
his last.
And now a member of the Council arrived, a good and upright man named Joseph.  He had not
consented to what the others had planned and carried out. He came from Arimathaea, a Jewish
town, and he lived in the hope of seeing the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for
the body of Jesus. He then took it down, wrapped it in a shroud and put it in a tomb which was
hewn in stone and which had never held a body. It was Preparation day and the Sabbath was
beginning to grow light. Meanwhile the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus were
following behind. They took note of the tomb and how the body had been laid.  Then they returned
and prepared spices and ointments. And on the Sabbath day they rested, as the Law required.
On the first day of the week, at the first sign of dawn, they went to the tomb with the spices they
had prepared.
They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, 
but on entering they
could not find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled about this, two men in
brilliant clothes suddenly appeared at their side.
Terrified, the women bowed their heads to the
ground. But the two said to them, ‘Why look among the dead for someone who is alive? He is not
here; he has risen.
This is the Gospel of the Lord

Gospel 11
Alleluia Alleluia!
I am the resurrection and the life says the Lord:
whoever believes in me will never die
Alleluia
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
When the soldiers came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Jesus, along with the
criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and
us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same
sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done
nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[f]”
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord

Gospel 12
Alleluia Alleluia!
“My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the
world was created.
Alleluia
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
When the sixth hour came there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the
ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me?’ When some of those who stood by heard this, they said, ‘Listen,
he is calling on Elijah.’ Someone ran and soaked a sponge in vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave it
to him to drink saying, ‘Wait! And see if Elijah will come to take him down.’ But Jesus gave a loud cry
and breathed his last. And the veil of the Sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The
centurion, who was standing in front of him, had seen how he had died, and he said, ‘In truth this
man was Son of God.’ When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James,
and Salome, bought spices with which to go and anoint him. And very early in the morning on the
first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen.
This is the Gospel of the Lord

Gospel 13
Alleluia Alleluia!
I am the resurrection and the life says the Lord:
whoever believes in me will never die
Alleluia
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
When the sixth hour came there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the
ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me?’ When some of those who stood by heard this, they said, ‘Listen,
he is calling on Elijah.’ Someone ran and soaked a sponge in vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave it
to him to drink saying, ‘Wait! And see if Elijah will come to take him down.’ But Jesus gave a loud cry
and breathed his last. And the veil of the Sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The
centurion, who was standing in front of him, had seen how he had died, and he said, ‘In truth this
man was Son of God.’ When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James,
and Salome, bought spices with which to go and anoint him. And very early in the morning on the
first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. They had been saying to one
another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ But when they looked
they saw that the stone—which was very big—had already been rolled back. On entering the tomb
they saw a young man in a white robe seated on the right–hand side, and they were struck with
amazement. But he said to them, ‘There is no need to be so amazed. You are looking for Jesus of
Nazareth, who was crucified: he has risen.
This is the Gospel of the Lord

Gospel 14
Lent:
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
I am the resurrection and the life says the Lord:
whoever believes in me will never die
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought
spices with which to go and anoint him. And very early in the morning on the first day of the week
they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll
away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ But when they looked they saw that the
stone—which was very big—had already been rolled back. On entering the tomb they saw a young
man in a white robe seated on the right–hand side, and they were struck with amazement. But he
said to them, ‘There is no need to be so amazed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was
crucified: he has risen.
This is the Gospel of the Lord

Gospel 15
Alleluia Alleluia!
I am the resurrection and the life says the Lord:
whoever believes in me will never die
Alleluia
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought
spices with which to go and anoint him. And very early in the morning on the first day of the week
they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll
away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ But when they looked they saw that the
stone—which was very big—had already been rolled back. On entering the tomb they saw a young
man in a white robe seated on the right–hand side, and they were struck with amazement. But he
said to them, ‘There is no need to be so amazed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was
crucified: he has risen.
This is the Gospel of the Lord

Gospel 16
Alleluia Alleluia!
Happy are those who hear the word, and keep it.
Alleluia
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew
At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden
these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants;
yes, Father, for such was your good will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls.
This is the Gospel of the Lord

Gospel 17
Alleluia Alleluia!
“My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the
world was created.
Alleluia
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon
you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For
my yoke is easy, and my burden light.
This is the Gospel of the Lord

Gospel 18
Alleluia Alleluia!
“My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the
world was created.
Alleluia
A reading from the gospel according to Matthew
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples
said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks,*
and gave it to them, saying,
“Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many
for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day
when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father.

This is the Gospel of the Lord

Gospel 19
Alleluia Alleluia!
I am the resurrection and the life says the Lord:
whoever believes in me will never die
Alleluia
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
When they had reached a place called Golgotha, that is, the place of the skull, they gave him wine
to drink mixed with gall, which he tasted but refused to drink. When they had finished crucifying
him they shared out his clothing by casting lots, and then sat down and stayed there keeping guard
over him. Above his head was placed the charge against him; it read: ‘This is Jesus, the King of the
Jews.’ Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.
From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth
hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have
you forsaken me?’ When some of those who stood there heard this, they said, ‘The man is calling
on Elijah,’and one of them quickly ran to get a sponge which he filled with vinegar and, putting it
on a reed, gave it him to drink. But the rest of them said, ‘Wait! And see if Elijah will come to save
him.’ But Jesus, again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit. And suddenly, the veil of the
Sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, the rocks were split, the tombs
opened and the bodies of many holy people rose from the dead, and these, after his resurrection,
came out of the tombs, entered the holy city and appeared to a number of people. The centurion,
together with the others guarding Jesus, had seen the earthquake and all that was taking place, and
they were terrified and said, ‘In truth this man was son of God.’ And many women were there,
watching from a distance, the same women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and looked after
him. Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of
Zebedee’s sons.
This is the Gospel of the Lord

Gospel 20
Alleluia Alleluia!
I am the resurrection and the life says the Lord:
whoever believes in me will never die
Alleluia
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 27.45
From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth
hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have
you forsaken me?’ When some of those who stood there heard this, they said, ‘The man is calling
on Elijah,’ and one of them quickly ran to get a sponge which he filled with vinegar and, putting it
on a reed, gave it him to drink. But the rest of them said, ‘Wait! And see if Elijah will come to save
him.’ But Jesus, again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit. And suddenly, the veil of the
Sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, the rocks were split, the tombs
opened and the bodies of many holy people rose from the dead, and these, after his resurrection,
came out of the tombs, entered the holy city and appeared to a number of people. The centurion,
together with the others guarding Jesus, had seen the earthquake and all that was taking place, and
they were terrified and said, ‘In truth this man was son of God.’ And many women were there,
watching from a distance, the same women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and looked after
him. Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of
Zebedee’s sons.
The burial
When it was evening, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, called Joseph, who had himself
become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate
ordered it to be handed over. So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean shroud and put it in
his own new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a large stone across the
entrance of the tomb and went away. After the Sabbath, and towards dawn on the first day of the
week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to visit the sepulchre. And suddenly there was a
violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled away the
stone and sat on it. His face was like lightning, his robe white as snow.
The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they were like dead men. But the angel spoke; and he said to the women,
‘There is no need for you to be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, for
he has risen, as he said he would. Come and see the place where he lay, 
then go quickly and tell his
disciples, “He has risen from the dead and now he is going ahead of you to Galilee; that is where you
will see him.” Look! I have told you.’
Filled with awe and great joy the women came quickly away
from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Gospel 21
Alleluia Alleluia!
I am the resurrection and the life says the Lord:
whoever believes in me will never die
Alleluia
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew
After the Sabbath, and towards dawn on the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other
Mary went to visit the sepulchre. And suddenly there was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the
Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. His face was like
lightning, his robe white as snow.
The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they were like dead
men. But the angel spoke; and he said to the women, ‘There is no need for you to be afraid. I know
you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen.
This is the Gospel of the Lord

Gospel 22
Alleluia Alleluia!
I am the resurrection and the life says the Lord:
whoever believes in me will never die
Alleluia
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew
After the Sabbath, and towards dawn on the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other
Mary went to visit the sepulchre. And suddenly there was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the
Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. His face was like
lightning, his robe white as snow.
The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they were like dead
men. But the angel spoke; and he said to the women, ‘There is no need for you to be afraid. I know
you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said he would.
Come and see the place where he lay,
then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has risen from the
dead and now he is going ahead of you to Galilee; that is where you will see him.” Look! I have told
you.’
Filled with awe and great joy the women came quickly away from the tomb and ran to tell his
disciples.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.