June 4, 2004, Tuesday of the 9th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the second letter of St. Peter,

Beloved, wait for and hasten the coming of the day of God,

because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire.

But according to his promise, we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness

dwells.

Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or

blemish before him, at peace, and consider the patience of our Lord as salvation.

Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to be led into the error of the

unprincipled and to fall from your own stability, but grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and

Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. Amen. The Word of the Lord.

The response is,

In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Before the mountains were begotten, and the earth and the world were brought forth,

From everlasting to everlasting, you are God.

In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

You turn man back to dust, saying, return, O children of men,

for a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night.

In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. 70 is the sum of our years, or eighty if we are strong, and most of them are fruitless toil,

for they pass quickly and we drift away.

In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Fill us at daybreak with your kindness that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days let your work be seen by your servants and your glory by their children in every age o lord you have been our refuge

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