Nativity of John the Baptist

                                    LUKE 1-57-80 The Birth of John the Baptist
Luke 1:57  Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.
58  And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59  And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father,
60  but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” ..............
62  And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called.
63  And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. ...............
Luke 1:67  And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68  “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people ......
Luke 1:76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77  to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,  .......
79  to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80  And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.