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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
But as kings have their companions in arms, who stand nearest to them, so John, who was the friend of the Bridegroom, went before Him nigh unto His coming. And this is what follows, For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways. For some prophets have preached the mystery of Christ at a distance, but he preached it nearer the time, that he might both see Christ, and declare Him to others.
Cyril of Alexandria
Observe, I pray, this also, that Christ is the Highest, Whose forerunner John was both in his birth, and in his preaching. What remains, then, for those to say, who lessen His divinity? And why will they not understand, that when Zacharias said, "And thou shalt be called Prophet of the Highest," he meant thereby "of God," of Whom also were the rest of the prophets.
Theophylact of Ohrid
It seems strange that Zacharias speaks such words to a child, for it is not fitting to converse with an infant who understands nothing yet. To this one may say that this child had an extraordinary birth — for at the arrival of Mary it leaped and prophesied in the womb — so there is nothing improbable in its understanding the words of its father even after birth. "You will go before the face of the Lord," he says, leaving me soon. …
Western Saints
Ambrose of Milan
In prophesying of the Lord he rightly addresses the prophet, showing that prophecy also is a gift of the Lord, in order that he might not, while enumerating public benefits, seem to be so ungrateful as to be silent of his own. Hence it is said, And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest. Now perhaps some may think it an absurd extravagance of the mind to address a child of eight days old. …
Gregory the Dialogist
But all they who by preaching cleanse the hearts of their hearers from the filth of their sins, prepare a way for the coming of wisdom into the heart.
Bede
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways. He spoke beautifully about the Lord, and suddenly turned his words to the prophet, to indicate that this too was a benefit of the Lord. It is indeed asked how he can speak to the infant of eight days. But how would the infant, who heard Mary's greeting while still enclosed in the womb, not hear his father's voice? …
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