In this week's lectionary gospel text, John the Baptist calls us to prepare for the coming of the "one who is more powerful than I." When the crowds ask him "What should we do?" John is blunt, talking about the need to bear good fruit and specifying what that means: "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise" and "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages." What John seems to be telling us is that to avoid the axe and being "thrown into the fire" we must take care of one another rather
