PARTING TIME
First Reading
A reading from the Book of Wisdom 3:1-6.9
The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be an affliction, and their going from us to be their destruction, but they are at peace.
For though in the sight of men they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them.
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.
The Word of the Lord.
PARTING TIME
Second Reading
A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians
4:13-18
But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.
Therefore comfort one another with these words.
The Word of the Lord.
PARTING TIME
Gospel
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John16:16-22
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘A little while, and you will see me no more; again a little while, and you will see me.’ Some of his disciples said to one another. ‘What is this that he says to us, “A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me”; and, ‘because I go to the Father”? They said, ‘what does he mean by “a little while”? We do not know what he means.’ Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him; so he said to them, ‘Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying “A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me”?
‘Truly, Truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of her child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.’
The Gospel of the Lord.