The Revised Common Lectionary: Use at your peoples' own risk

 This Sunday's reading from Luke 3:15-16,21-22 has another of those curious deletions found in the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL).

15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with* the Holy Spirit and fire.

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’

The deleted verses, 17-20, contain then bad news that the editors of the RCL felt should be withheld from the Sunday pewsitters.

17 His winnowing-fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’

18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. 19 But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added to them all by shutting up John in prison.

See what can happen when you proclaim the good news. You get locked up and beheaded.

Guess what happens when you don't proclaim the good news. 

John the Baptist tells us.

Chaff.

Musn't let the congregation hear that!