In today's Gospel Luke introduces John the Baptist with direct reference to those who perpetrated injustice and division on the Jewish people of his time.

The redemptive events which began with John in a remote corner of Judea were, by God's design, the beginning of the fulfillment of God's concern for the salvation of "all flesh" - which includes us and excludes no one. Luke underscores this theme repeatedly. His concern for all continually pushes us to break down the barriers of injustice and division that deaden our world, just as it did the world faced by John the Baptist. We are called to confront and deal with the injustice and divisions in our world and to replace them with the Kingdom of God.

To do this we need to renew our own "baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins," just as John's disciples did. That is the purpose of Advent. The Church gives us today's gospel, then, to remind us that we have the grace to acknowledge our sins and the sins of the world, to repent and change, to enjoy God's unconditional forgiveness, and to join in the wisdom and work of our Lord.