Therefore he (John) would say to the crowds who had come out to be baptised by him:
‘Children of snakes!
who told you to flee from the coming wrath?
So produce fruits worthy of repentance
and do not begin to say to yourselves:
‘We have Abraham as our father.
For I say to you that God can raise from these stones
children for Abraham.’
Already the axe is laid against the root of the trees.
Therefore every root that does not bear good fruit
will be cut down and thrown into the fire.’
And the crowd asked him:
‘So what should we do?’
And he answered them:
‘The one who has two tunics
must share with the one who has none.
And the one who has food must do likewise.’
And tax collectors also came to be baptised
and they said to him:
‘Teacher what should we do?’
and he said to them:
‘No more collect than you are commanded.’
The soldiers also asked him:
‘What should we do also?’
And he said to them:
‘Extort no one and neither accuse falsely
and be content with your wages. ‘
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy,
For your mercy and for your truth’s sake. Amen
