And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.’ (Luke 3:10-14)

John advocates an active, practical repentance. We are to share what we have with those who need what we have.

We are to avoid oppressing others. Especially if we have power, we are to use that power with restraint and justice.

But John does not preach radical self-sacrifice. Tax collectors, widely seen as traitorous servants of the Romans, can remain tax collectors. Soldiers may remain soldiers.

Repentance is not a matter of what we profess. It is a matter of how we treat others in all that we do.