Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Psalm 98 gave this Sunday its name, Cantate: "Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous things." In the classic introit for the Fourth Sunday after Easter, only verses 1 (above) and 2 ("The Lord has made known his victory, he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.") were used. Originally, when the psalm was used as "marching music" preceding the mass, the whole psalm was sung, beautifully reflecting the joy of Easter that would still be celebrated four weeks after the festival. It is indeed a psalm of the Great Fifty Days of the Pasch.