Advent Calendar Day Six

Matthew 3: 1-12
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
"A voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.' "

John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

Turkey like the one above doesn't just happen- preparation is key. For a perfect Christmas lunch there is a lot of back ground work. Sprouts need peeling, stuffing made, poppies artfully arranged in the background- Oh no! Wait that's only in the picture above! We often forget the importance of preparation in our hearts. Just as John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, we need time to prepare ourselves for the true meaning of Christmas.

Chocolate: Green and Black's Maya Gold
Number: 4
Colour: White