In the 7th century, the Pope asked Adrian, an abbot of a monastery in Naples, Italy, to serve as Archbishop in Canterbury, England. Adrian turned down the request. However, in return, he agreed to serve the Pope as his assistant and advisor, ending up spending most of his life in Canterbury as a teacher and abbott. Adrian was originally from northern Africa. In the monastery in Canterbury, under his leadership, the facility became an important center of learning and attracted many scholars. He died there in the year 710. Several hundred years later, when reconstruction was being done on the monastery, Adrian of Canterbury’s body was discovered in an incorrupt state. His tomb became a popular place of pilgrimage and many miracles were reported there.
Today, from the first letter of John, we hear about three ways that God gives testimony to us about Jesus. First, there is the Holy Spirit who comes into the hearts of believers, after the time Jesus left the earth; the Holy Spirit testifies about who Jesus is and about what Jesus taught. Second is water, which points us to the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. His baptism is a visible sign and testimony of God’s endorsement of the work of Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of the world. The third testimony is blood, signifying the death of Jesus on the cross that brings us salvation. These three things constitute God’s testimony about who Jesus is for us. While we celebrate Jesus’ birth in the Christmas season, we still remember the fullness of who Jesus is and what he brings to us.
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