(John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.”’) (NRSV)

John bore witness about him and proclaimed: ‘This man was the one I spoke about: “The one who comes after me (in time) is before me (in status) because he existed before me (in time). ‘” (DNW)

Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me
Be thou a smooth path below me
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me
Today – tonight -forever
Amen.

St Columba