Psalm 96: 1-3, 11-13

The responsorial psalm for Midnight Mass comes from Psalm 96, a hymn inviting all of humanity to praise God for his wonderful deeds.

This psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Isaiah 40-55, as does Psalm 98. Another version of the psalm is found in 1 Chronicles 16:23-33.

Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands. Sing to the LORD; bless his name.

In the opening verse, the psalmist issues three calls for a song of praise, each time highlighting a different aspect of the song:

• The “new song” signifies a song that reflects the new works of God, especially his saving actions, which call for fresh expressions of praise.
• “All you lands” (also translated as “all the earth”) indicates that this praise is not limited to Israel but includes the entire world, signifying the universality of God’s reign.
• The summons to bless God’s name is a call to worship and adore God’s holy character. In Scripture, a person’s name represents their very essence, identity, and authority.

Announce his salvation, day after day. Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.

All the earth is called to announce the good news of God’s salvation and to do so unceasingly, day after day.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and what fills it resound; let the plains be joyful and all that is in them! Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.

The psalmist’s call to praise broadens. He calls upon the entire cosmos — both heaven and earth — to rejoice in the Lord.

They shall exult before the LORD, for he comes; for he comes to rule the earth. He shall rule the world with justice and the peoples with his constancy.

The final verse focuses on the Lord’s coming as a righteous judge.

God’s judgment is just and fair; its arrival will restore harmony and right order. This serves as both a declaration of hope for the righteous and a warning for those who reject God.

This psalm resonates with the joy of our celebration tonight, reminding us that the birth of Christ brings God’s salvation to all, and inviting us to join in the cosmic celebration of his glory.