By Gayle Somers, Catholic Exchange - John the Baptist prepared the Jews for the first Advent of Jesus by baptizing them at the Jordan River. In Sunday’s readings, we find him yelling out, “You brood of vipers!” to some who came to see him. How indelicate!... Our Advent Gospel reminds us that repentance and the fruit that comes from a changed life are vital to our preparation for the Lord’s coming. John the Baptist fulfilled Isaiah’s ancient prophecy that “the voice of one crying out in the desert” would “prepare the way of the Lord” (Isa 40:3). The preparation consisted of one word: “Repent!”