A reading from the second Book of Maccabees

Judas, the ruler of Israel,

took up a collection among all his soldiers,

amounting to two thousand silver drachmas,

which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice.

In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way,

inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view;

for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again,

it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death.

But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward

that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness,

it was a holy and pious thought.

Thus he made atonement for the dead

that they might be freed from this sin.

The word of the Lord.

                                                                  C1, Maccabees 12:43-46