[67] Then Zechariah his father, filled with the holy Spirit, prophesied, saying: [68] "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people. [69] He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant, [70] even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old: [71] salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, [72] to show mercy to our fathers and to be mindful of his holy covenant [73] and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father, and to grant us that, [74] rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship him [75] in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. [76] And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, [77] to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, [78] because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us [79] to shine on those who sit in darkness and death's shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace." [80] The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
(CCC 422) “But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal 4:4-5). This is “the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mk 1:1): God has visited his people. He has fulfilled the promise he made to Abraham and his descendants. He acted far beyond all expectation - he has sent his own “beloved Son” (Mk 1:11; cf. Lk 1:5, 68). (CCC 720) Finally, with John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit begins the restoration to man of "the divine likeness," prefiguring what he would achieve with and in Christ. John's baptism was for repentance; baptism in water and the Spirit will be a new birth (Cf. Jn 3:5). (CCC 523) St. John the Baptist is the Lord's immediate precursor or forerunner, sent to prepare his way (cf. Acts 13:24; Mt 3:3). "Prophet of the Most High", John surpasses all the prophets, of whom he is the last (Lk 1:76; cf. 7:26; Mt 11:13). He inaugurates the Gospel, already from his mother's womb welcomes the coming of Christ, and rejoices in being "the friend of the bridegroom", whom he points out as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (Jn 1:29; cf. Acts 1:22; Lk 1:41; 16:16; Jn 3:29). Going before Jesus "in the spirit and power of Elijah", John bears witness to Christ in his preaching, by his Baptism of conversion, and through his martyrdom (Lk 1:17; cf. Mk 6:17-29). (CCC 2584) In their "one to one" encounters with God, the prophets draw light and strength for their mission. Their prayer is not flight from this unfaithful world, but rather attentiveness to the Word of God. At times their prayer is an argument or a complaint, but it is always an intercession that awaits and prepares for the intervention of the Savior God, the Lord of history (Cf. Am 7:2, 5; Isa 6:5, 8, 11; Jer 1:6; 15:15-18; 20:7-18).
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