Gospel

Luke 3:1-9 (NRSV)

1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and
Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and
Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to
John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a
baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet
Isaiah, 'The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
5Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made
straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6and all flesh shall see the salvation of God."' 7John said to the
crowds that came out to be baptized by him, 'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath
to come? 8Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin 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. 9Even 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.'

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.