THEOLOGICAL CLUE

The Fourth Sunday after Easter, in the classic lectionary, carried the title of Cantate Sunday, from the introit, which began "O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvelous things, alleluia (Psalm 98)." In parts of the church, it became known as Church Music Sunday, an occasion for special musical presentations, choir concerts, and the general promotion of the church music. This was not all bad, except that the singing of the "new Easter song" sometimes got lost in the activities of the day.

The Fifth Sunday of Easter does call, especially in a second reading and the Gospel for the Day, for a "new song" in light of the renewing activity of God in the resurrection of our Lord. The theological "key" is the word Easter; every time that the faithful hear that w…