There is a curious detail in the third chapter of Luke’s Gospel. John the Baptist has been calling the people of Judea to repentance, and he does not mince his words. “He who is mightier than I is coming,” John proclaims. “He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Next we are told that the coming Christ will appear with a winnowing fork in his hand, in order to gather the wheat into his granary.
So far so good. Except that John immediately adds: “But the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Well, that certainly puts a damper on things. But we are not finished yet, because in the very next verse St Luke gives us this surprising comment: “So, with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people.” Good news, you say? Tell that to the chaff
