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Christmas Season · Nativity of the Lord - Christmas Dawn · Year A

Psalm 97:1+6, 11-12

The Lord Reigns, Let Earth Rejoice

December 25, 2025

Christ in Glory, Francesco Bassano the Younger
Christ in Glory, Francesco Bassano the Younger, 16th centuryWikimedia Commons
A Venetian painting from a family workshop, Christ enthroned in cloud with the light breaking from behind him.The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice … Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne … Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.Francesco Bassano the YoungerOne of a family of Venetian painters from the town of Bassano, who ran a large workshop and died by his own hand at forty-three.Wikimedia CommonsNo holding institution is recorded with the image; it is known from the public domain reproduction.Wikimedia Commons
Roman Lectionary
GospelLuke 2:15-20Lk 2:15-20
Second ReadingTitus 3:4-7Ti 3:4-7
First ReadingIsa. 62:11-12Is 62:11-12
Responsorial PsalmPs. 97:1+6, 11-12Ps 97:1+6, 11-12

Overview & Insights

“The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice.” (Psalm 97:1)

Psalm 97 belongs to the cluster of enthronement psalms (93, 95-99) built on the acclamation that the Lord reigns. Its opening is not a description but a shout, and what follows is a theophany in the older idiom of Israel’s poetry: cloud and darkness, fire going before him, mountains melting like wax (vv. 2-5), language that keeps Sinai and the storm imagery of Canaanite religion within earshot. Verse 6, chosen for this Mass, has the heavens themselves proclaim his righteousness, so the announcement is cosmic before it is human. The reason the psalm is read at dawn lies in v. 11, where light is sown, or dawns, for the righteous, a horticultural metaphor in the Hebrew that most versions smooth out. Idols and their worshippers are shamed in passing (v. 7), and Zion hears the verdict and is glad (v. 8).

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Commentary

Commentary on Psalm 97Commentary on Ps 97 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary commentary on the Lord reigns, the enthronement psalm sung at Christmas Dawn.

Enduring Word Bible Commentary Psalm 97Enduring Word Bible Commentary Ps 97 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik on the reign of the Lord, light sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.

Psalm 97:1 CommentariesPs 97:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentary on the Lord reigning and the earth rejoicing.

Background & Word Study

BibleProject: Book of Psalms OverviewBibleProject: Book of Ps Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of the Psalter showing how the enthronement psalms proclaim God's kingship.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Psalm 97Catena: Ps 97 Catena

Patristic comment chained to Psalm 97 reading the Lord's reign and light for the righteous christologically.

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