Farewell Service

Hymns, readings and a printed program for a Christian funeral

Luke 24:13–35

A Catholic funeral reading (Gospel), with the full text in the King James Version and the Douay-Rheims.

Reads in about 4 minutes23 versesCatholic: Gospel

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King James Version

  1. 13And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
  2. 14And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
  3. 15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
  4. 16But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
  5. 17And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
  6. 18And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
  7. 19And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
  8. 20And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
  9. 21But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
  10. 22Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
  11. 23And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
  12. 24And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
  13. 25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
  14. 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
  15. 27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
  16. 28And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
  17. 29But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
  18. 30And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
  19. 31And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
  20. 32And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
  21. 33And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
  22. 34Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
  23. 35And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

Douay-Rheims

  1. 13And behold, two of them went, the same day, to a town which was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, named Emmaus.
  2. 14And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
  3. 15And it came to pass that while they talked and reasoned with themselves, Jesus himself also, drawing near, went with them.
  4. 16But their eyes were held, that they should not know him.
  5. 17And he said to them: What are these discourses that you hold one with another as you walk and are sad?
  6. 18And the one of them, whose name was Cleophas, answering, said to him: Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things that have been done there in these days?
  7. 19To whom he said: What things? And they said: Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, mighty in work and word before God and all the people.
  8. 20And how our chief priests and princes delivered him to be condemned to death and crucified him.
  9. 21But we hoped that it was he that should have redeemed Israel. And now besides all this, to-day is the third day since these things were done.
  10. 22Yea and certain women also of our company affrighted us who, before it was light, were at the sepulchre,
  11. 23And not finding his body, came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who say that he is alive.
  12. 24And some of our people went to the sepulchre and found it so as the women had said: but him they found not.
  13. 25Then he said to them: O foolish and slow of heart to believe in all things, Which the prophets have spoken.
  14. 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and so, to enter into his glory?
  15. 27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things that were concerning him.
  16. 28And they drew nigh to the town whither they were going: and he made as though he would go farther.
  17. 29But they constrained him, saying: Stay with us, because it is towards evening and the day is now far spent. And he went in with them.
  18. 30And it came to pass, whilst he was at table with them, he took bread and blessed and brake and gave to them.
  19. 31And their eyes were opened: and they knew him. And he vanished out of their sight.
  20. 32And they said one to the other: Was not our heart burning within us, whilst he spoke in the way and opened to us the scriptures?
  21. 33And rising up, the same hour, they went back to Jerusalem: and they found the eleven gathered together, and those that were with them,
  22. 34Saying: The Lord is risen indeed and hath appeared to Simon.
  23. 35And they told what things were done in the way: and how they knew him in the breaking of bread.

Most Catholic parishes in the US read the New American Bible. Read Luke 24 in the NABRE at usccb.org.

Where this reading is used

  • Catholic: Gospel (Lectionary for Mass, no. 1016)

Hymns based on it

Scripture: King James Version (1769 text) and Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (Project Gutenberg #1581); both public domain. Citation as listed in the Lectionary for Mass.