The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
And no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
And their passing away was thought an affliction
And their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.

For if before men, indeed, they be punished,
Yet is their hope full of immortality;
Chastised a little, they
shall be greatly blessed,
Because God tried them
And found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
And as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
And the faithful shall abide with him in love:
Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
And his care is with his elect.

Romans 8:31-39
Read by Gerry Fallon

If God is for us, who can be against us? If God did not spare an own Son but gave him up for us, won't God make sure we get everything promised to us? Who would bring a charge against God's chosen ones? Didn't God declare us "not guilty?" Who will condemn us? Didn't Jesus die for us? And, wasn't he raised up, and isn't he now seated at the right hand of God, interceding for us?

What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or hunger, or poverty or danger or war? No, because in all these things we win the victory through the one who loves us so. For I am convinced that nothing in life, not even death, not these present, things, nor the past, nor the things to come, not angels, not anything in creation, not any power in the universe will be able to separate us from the love of God we have in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 14:1-6
Read by Father Paul

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.

Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?"

Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."