Sunday 4th December 2022 – II of Advent Season

+ From the Gospel according to Matthew 3, 1 – 12)

In those days, John the Baptist came and preached in the desert of Judea saying: “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near!”. In fact, he is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: “The voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord, straighten his paths!”.
And he, John, wore a camel’s hair garment and a leather girdle about his loins; his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all of Judea and all the area along the Jordan ran to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
Seeing many Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them: «Breed of vipers! Who made you think you could escape the coming wrath? So bear fruit worthy of conversion, and don’t think you can say within yourselves: “We have Abraham for our father!”. For I tell you that from these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. Already the ax is laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you in water for conversion; but he who comes after me is mightier than I, and I am not worthy to wear his sandals; he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. He holds the shovel in his hand and will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the granary, but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.’

Word of the Lord.