The LORD called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. (Is 49:1)

Sometimes we forget that the Lucan gospel begins with TWO annunciation stories and TWO nativities. Today, six months before Christmas, we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist, who prepared the way of the Lord. As Zechariah proclaims:

And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. (Lk 1:76-77)