From Fr. Tony Kadavil:
Synopsis:
Nativity of St. John the Baptist [A, B, C] June 23: Vigil Mass)
Introduction: Usually, we reflect upon two advents and two angelic
messages during the Advent season, namely, the advent of John the Baptist and
the advent of Jesus. This year the feast of the Birth of John (which occurs
June 24), falls on a Sunday and thus replaces the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary
Time. That is why we hear again the angelic message announcing the birth of
Christ’s forerunner. The archangel Gabriel informed the childless Zechariah the
priest that a son, whom he was to name John, would be born to him and his
barren, aged wife. Today’s Gospel describes how Zechariah got the Divine
message in the Holy of Holies in the Temple of Jerusalem while he was offering
incense.