+ From the Gospel according to Matthew In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." For he is the one of whom had spoken by the prophet Isaiah when he said: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."
And he, John wore clothing of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, throughout Judea and the whole area along the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
Seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who made you believe he can escape the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance, and do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father. " Why I say that from these stones God can raise up children to Abraham. Already the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is stronger than me and I am not worthy to carry his sandals: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He holds the shovel and clean up his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. " Word of the Lord
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