John came to bear witness to the light, / in order to prepare a people well-disposed for the coming of the Lord .

 

Gospel: Luke 1,5-17

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah. John came to bear witness to the light, / in order to prepare a people well-disposed for the coming of the Lord (John 1,7; Luke 1,17). – R. Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Luke – 5In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah, from the group of Abia. His wife was a descendant of Aaron and was called Isabel. 6Both were righteous before God and faithfully obeyed all the commandments and orders of the Lord. 7They had no children, because Elizabeth was sterile, and they were both old. 8On one occasion, Zechariah was performing priestly duties in the temple, as it was his group's turn. 9According to the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary and offer incense. 10The whole assembly of people was outside praying, while incense was being offered. 11Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear seized him. 13But the angel said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will have a son, and you will name him John. 14You will be joyful and happy, and many people will rejoice at the birth of the boy, 15because he will be great before the Lord. He will not drink wine or fermented drink and, from the womb, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. 16He will bring many of the people of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17And he will walk before them, with the spirit and power of Elijah, in order to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the rebellious to the wisdom of the righteous, preparing a people willing for the Lord.” – Word of salvation. He will be great before the Lord; From his mother's womb, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, and many people will rejoice at his birth (Luke 1,15.14). In communion with the entire Church, we celebrate the vigil of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. His birth heralds the arrival of new times for humanity: the coming of Jesus, for whom John, as a prophet, will prepare the paths. Celebrating this solemnity, we gave thanks to the Lord, who came to meet his people, bringing his grace and salvation. First Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10 Reading from the book of the prophet Jeremiah – In the days of Josiah, 4the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 5“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; Before you left your mother's womb, I consecrated you and made you a prophet to the nations.” 6I said, “Ah! Lord God, I don’t know how to speak, I’m too young.” 7The Lord said to me, “Do not say that you are too young; you will go to everyone to whom I send you, and whatever I send you to say, you will say. 8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to defend you,” says the Lord. 9The Lord stretched out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Behold, I am putting my words in your mouth. 10I have appointed you today over peoples and kingdoms, with power to extirpate and destroy, to devastate and to tear down, to build and to plant.” - Word of the Lord. Responsorial Psalm: 70(71) From the maternal breast, you are my support. 1. I seek my refuge in you, Lord, / may I not be ashamed forever! / Because you are just, defend me and free me! / Listen to my voice, come and save me! – R. 2. Be a protective rock for me, / a very safe shelter that saves me! / Because you are my strength and my support, † my refuge, protection and security! / Free me, O my God, from the hands of the wicked. – R. 3. Because you are, O Lord God, my hope, / in you I have trusted since my youth! / You have been my support since before I was born, / from my mother's breast, my support. – R. 4. My mouth will announce every day / your justice and your countless graces. / You taught me from my youth, / and to this day I sing your wonders. – R. Second Reading: 1 Peter 1,8-12 Reading of the first letter of Saint Peter – Dear friends, 8without having seen the Lord, you love him. Without seeing him yet, you believe in him. This will be a source of unspeakable and glorious joy for you, 9for you will obtain what you believe in: your salvation. 10This salvation has been the object of the investigations and meditations of the prophets. They prophesied about the grace destined for you. 11They sought to know to what time and to what circumstances the Spirit of Christ, who was in them, referred when he announced in advance the sufferings of Christ and the consequent glory. 12It was revealed to them that, not for themselves, but for you, they were ministering these things, which are now announced to you by those who preach the Gospel to you by virtue of the Holy Spirit, sent from heaven; these revelations that even angels want to contemplate! - Word of the Lord.