*[John the Baptist]*{He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!*& fire!*His winnowing fork is in his hand!*to clear his threshing floor!*& to gather the wheat into his barn!*but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire!”*So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people!

*[John the Baptist]*{As the people were in expectation!*& all were questioning in their hearts concerning John!*whether he might be the Christ?*John answered them all!*saying!*“I baptize you with water!*but he who is mightier than I is coming!}*the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie!*He will baptize

*[John the Baptist]*{*& said to him!*“Teacher!*what shall we do?”*& he said to them!*“Collect no more than you are authorized to do!”*Soldiers also asked him!*“*& we?*what shall we do?”*& he said to them!*“Do not extort money from anyone by threats!*or by false accusation!*& be content with your wages!”}

*[John the Baptist]*{he answered them!*“Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none!*& whoever has food is to do likewise!”}*Tax collectors also came to be baptized!*& said to him!*“Teacher!*what shall we do?”*& he said to them!

*[John the Baptist]*{Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees!*Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down!*& thrown into the fire!”*& the crowds asked him!*“What then shall we do?”*&} he answered them!*“Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none!*& whoever has

*[John the Baptist]*{For I tell you!*God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham!}*Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees!*Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down!*& thrown into the fire!”*& the crowds asked him!

*John the Baptist Prepares the Way!

*[John the Baptist]*Bear fruits in keeping with repentance!*& do not begin to say to yourselves!*‘We have Abraham as our father!'*For I tell you!*God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham!*Even now the axe is laid to the root of

*Family!*& Concerning the Unfair Treatment of Prince Harry!*& His wife Meghan!!*& Thier Beautiful Children!

*John the Baptist Prepares the Way!

*[John the Baptist]*Bear fruits in keeping with repentance!*& do not begin to say to yourselves!*‘We have Abraham as our

*The Royal Family!*& Concerning the Unfair Treatment of Prince Harry!*& His wife Meghan!!*& Thier Beautiful Children!

*John the Baptist Prepares the Way!

*[John the Baptist]*Bear fruits in keeping with repentance!*& do not begin to say to yourselves!*‘We have

@cbctop_mirror

I'm not religious, nor am I really a huge fan of the Catholic church, but Francis was a far better than average Pope.

He pushed the church in key ways I hope the next Pope will continue and expand.

Especially it matters that he called for urgent and decisive action on human-caused Climate Change.

It matters, too, that he sought paths to acceptance and inclusion of diversity.

I liked that he was a humble man, rejecting trappings of wealth, critical of his church's hoarded wealth, pushing for financial transparency, and focused on helping the poor. He seemed to want to be peer of, advocate for, and inspiration to regular people. Anyone, Catholic or not, ought admire such.

The contrast is especially apparent from the US, where the sitting administration makes frequent appeals to religion for exactly the opposite reasons, to profit upon the poor for the sake of the rich, to undermine and deplete what meager wealth they have (again in service of the rich), and to sow seeds of intolerance and distrust.