FIRST READING Isaiah 12:1-6

1. You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, and you comforted me.  2. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. 3. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4. And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted. 5. Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. 6. Shout aloud and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

GOSPEL: Luke 3:7-18

7. John 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? 8. Bear 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. 9. 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.” 10. And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11. In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” 12. Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13. He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.”

14. Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.” 15. As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16. John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

18. So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.