Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way
for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins,
that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
John knew that his
own message was powerful, but that Messiah would bring an even more dramatic
change to the world.
Baptism
seems like a simple and innocent enough sacrament of the church when we see a
baby brought into the household of faith. John however, promises and warns,
that God’s Holy Spirit will come as part of that baptism.
Have
you ever felt baptized by Fire as promised by John?
