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Some suggestions for the First Reading from the Old Testament:
1. A reading from the book of Genesis 1:26-28. 31.
God said, 'Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let them be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all the wild beasts and all the reptiles that crawl upon the earth.' God created man in the image of himself, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. God blessed them, saying to them, 'Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it. Be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven and all living animals on the earth.' God saw all he had made, and indeed it was very good.
The word of the Lord.
2. A reading from the book of Genesis 2:18-24.
The Lord God said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make him a helpmate.' So from the soil the Lord God fashioned all the wild beasts and all the birds of heaven. These he brought to the man to see what he would call them; each one was to bear the name the man would give it. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of heaven and all the wild beasts. But no helpmate suitable for man was found for him. So the Lord God made the man fall into a deep sleep. And while he slept, he took one of his ribs and enclosed it in flesh. The Lord God built the rib he had taken from the man into a woman, and brought her to the man. The man exclaimed: 'This at last is bone from my bones, and flesh from my flesh! This is to be called woman, for this was taken from man.' This is why a man leaves his father and mother and joins himself to his wife, and they become one body.
The word of the Lord.
3. A reading from the prophet Jeremiah 31:31-34
See, the days are coming - it is the Lord who speaks - when I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah, but not a covenant like the one I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. No, this is the covenant I will make with the House of Israel when those days arrive - it is the Lord who speaks. Deep within them I will plant my Law, writing it on their hearts. Then I will be their God and they shall be my people. There will be no further need for neighbour to try to teach neighbour, or brother to say to brother, 'Learn to know the Lord!' No, they will all know me, the least no less than the greatest it is the Lord who speaks.
The word of the Lord.
4. A reading from the book of Ruth
Wherever you go, I will go.
Wherever you live, I will live.
Your people will be my people.
Your God will be my God too.
Wherever you die I will die.
And there I shall be buried beside you.
We shall be together forever.
And our love will be the gift of our life
The word of the Lord.
Normally the Psalm is sung but if not you can use one of the following:
1. Responsorial Psalm Ps 148:1-4. 9-14.
Response: Praise the name of the Lord.
Praise the Lord from the heavens,
praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all his angels,
praise him, all his host. Response
Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, shining stars.
Praise him, highest heavens
and the waters above the heavens. Response
All mountains and hills,
all fruit trees and cedars,
beasts, wild and tame,
reptiles and birds on the wing. Response
All earth's kings and peoples,
earth's princes and rulers:
young men and maidens,
old men together with children. Response
Let them praise the name of the Lord
for he alone is exalted.
The splendour of his name
reaches beyond heaven and earth. Response
2. Responsorial Psalm: Ps 144:8-10.15.17-18.
Response: "How good is the Lord to all.
The Lord is kind and full of compassion,
slow to anger, bounding in love.
How good is the Lord to all,
Compassionate to all his creatures. Response
All your creatures shall thank you, 0 Lord,
And your friends shall repeat their blessing.
The eyes of all creatures look to you
And you give them their food in due time. Response
The Lord is just in all his ways
and loving in all his deeds.
He is close to all who call him,
Who call on him from their hearts. Response
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