John came and sinners believed in him. Following the questioning of his authority by the chief priests and elders of the people, Jesus decided to engage his confronters in a discussion. It was a discussion that hinged on what had earlier transpired between them. John the Baptist had appeared and preached the turning away from sin because of the nearness of the kingdom of God. It was a message that was directed to one and all, the elect and the non-elect, for the kingdom that was looming in the horizon was an inclusive one. However, according to the anecdote of the two sons as well as from the explanation Jesus gives to it, John’s message was not received by everybody. And from what Jesus says, it was those who were expected to readily accept John’s message that refused to believe in him, while those who had been thought to be unredeemable welcomed John’s message. What went wrong? Why the apparent reversal in fortunes?
While we might not know the reason for the hesitation by the religious leaders to believe in John’s message, we do know why the message was warmly received by tax collectors and prostitutes. John’s preaching was not only about repentance. It included some good news as well. The second part of John’s preaching (baptism) was an avenue to a new beginning and a new life. It was an avenue to a life that had been thought to be out of reach for them. Tax collectors and prostitutes represented a people who had been counted out, a people who had no chance. When John therefore came with a message that they indeed had a chance, they readily believed in him. It was a message that they had waited to hear for the entirety of their lives. It was a message of life, a message that they could not ignore. This was why they preceded the religious leaders and other self-righteous people in setting their feet in the kingdom. 
The message of John continues to be proclaimed to us on a daily basis as we read the Scriptures. God continues to reach out to us even as he invites us to turn away from our sinfulness and embrace his life-giving words. May we emulate the disposition of those who took to heart the proclamation of John the Baptist and so prepare ourselves for the birth of our Savior.