It is the feast day of the birth of St John the Baptist today. Elizabeth, who had suffered from infertility was given the greatest gift-a son.
Her husband, Zachariah, had received the news from an angel while performing the rites of the High Priest at Yom Kippor.
Once a year the High Priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies and sprinkle the blood of atonement in the place where the Ark had stood.
The angel struck Zachariah dumb because of his unbelief and therefore he was unable to give the blessing-the absolution that year.
It must have been a shocking thing for those awaiting the end of the rite within the Temple.
Six months later Mary arrives in the hill country of Judea to visit Elizabeth and the fetus Baptist jumps for joy at the presence of zygote Jesus.
Mary stays for three months so presumably is there when St John is born and Elizabeth finally gets to hold her son.
Throughout this time Zachariah has been unable to speak.
It is not until 8 days later when John is circumcised and brought into the Covenant of God that finally Zachariah gets his voice back when he confirms the name of his son as John.
John is the prophet of the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippor) he calls people to repentance to be ready for the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
This is Good News.
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