2001-12-05 — John the Baptist calls for repentance and I’ve been thinking about what, at it’s most basic, are we called to turn from in our repentance in preparation for the Kingdom of God. Among my conclusions: that we regard existence without God’s reign as the normal and natural thing.
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
— Advent 2, Series ACopyright 1999 - 2004 James Wetzstein, except the bible of course. All rights reserved.