Funerals for Baptized Children - Gospels

From the Lectionary for Mass, no. 1022

Matthew 11:25-30

You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned and have revealed them to the childlike.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

At that time Jesus answered:
"I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
     for although you have hidden these things
     from the wise and the learned
     you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
     and no one knows the Father except the Son
     and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
     and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
     for I am meek and humble of heart;
     and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mark 10:13-16

The Kingdom of heaven belongs to little children.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them,
     but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this he became indignant, and said to them,
     "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them,
     for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Amen, I say to you,
     whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child
     will not enter it."
Then he embraced the children and blessed them,
     placing his hands on them.

The Gospel of the Lord.

John 6:37-40 (short form, 6:37-39)

This is the will of my Father, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me.
  • Omit the words in bolded brackets [ ] for the short form of this reading.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Jesus said to the crowds:
"Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
     and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
     because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
     but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
     that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
     but that I should raise it on the last day.
[For this is the will of my Father,
     that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
     may have eternal life,
     and I shall raise him on the last day."]

The Gospel of the Lord.

John 6:51-58

Whoever eats this bread will live forever, and I will raise him up on the last day.
  • (For a child who had already received the Eucharist)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Jesus said to the Jews:
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
     whoever eats this bread will live forever;
     and the bread that I will give is my Flesh
     for the life of the world."

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,
     "How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?"
Jesus said to them,
     "Amen, amen, I say to you,
     unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood,
     you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood
     has eternal life,
     and I will raise him on the last day.
For my Flesh is true food,
     and my Blood is true 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 have life because of the Father,
     so also the one who feeds on me
     will have life because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,
     whoever eats this bread will live forever."

The Gospel of the Lord.

John 11:32-38, 40

If you believe, you will see the glory of God.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

When Mary [the mother of Lazarus]
     came to where Jesus was and saw him,
     she fell at his feet and said to him,
     "Lord, if you had been here,
     my brother would not have died."
When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping,
     he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said,
     "Where have you laid him?"
They said to him, "Sir, come and see."
And Jesus wept.
So the Jews said, "See how he loved him."
But some of them said,
     "Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man
     have done something so that this man would not have died?"

So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb.
It was a cave, and a stone lay across it.
Jesus said to her,
     "Did I not tell you that if you believe
     you will see the glory of God?"

The word of the Lord.

John 19:25-30

Behold, your mother.

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 Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple 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.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.