Born in the 7th century in North Africa, Adrian of Canterbury was serving as the Abbot of a monastery near Naples, Italy, when he was twice offered to assume the role of Archbishop of Canterbury in England, which he declined both times. However, when he recommended his friend Theodore of Tarsus for this role, who accepted, Adrian was persuaded to go to Canterbury to become Abbot of the monastery of St Peter and St Paul. According to the Church historian the Venerable Bede, Adrian was very learned in the Bible, as well as in Greek and Latin, and an excellent administrator of the abbey, which flourished under his leadership. He died in the year 709.
As we celebrate these days of the Christmas season right after Epiphany, we hear the Gospel of Jesus arriving at the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth, reading from the prophet Isaiah. In many ways, we should see Jesus' proclamation of his ministry that is announced in Isaiah as our ministry as well. In our words and our actions, in proclaiming Christ’s Good News to the world, we are to open the eyes of those who are spiritually blind, to liberate those who are bound to sin and to contribute to the social and political liberation of the poor or needy and the oppressed. I always go back to Mother Teresa, as she says that we don’t need to try to proclaim the Gospel of Christ in doing great things, but in the small things we do each day. We all have our gifts and talents, St Adrian used his gifts and talents in scholarship and administration to advance learning in the country of England and to serve as abbot of the monastery in Canterbury. God calls us all to different things to proclaim Christ’s Gospel, especially in the little things we do each day.
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