Ninian, Bishop in Galloway, c. 430
September 16
In the Collect for today, we pray to express our thanksgiving for Ninian’s life and labors by following the example of his zeal and his patience. That is an odd combination: zeal and patience. They seem to cancel out each other. It is the nature of zeal to be headstrong and impetuous, while it is characteristic of patience to be humble and measured. Yet, it is these contrasting gifts that are most needed in time of transition, needed in balanced and equal measure.
Today, we are caught up in the painful realities of institutional change of far-reaching consequence. In these times, it may be that our own role will be small, like Ninian’s. Our role may only be to stand faithfully between times, in the midst of change, bridging the span from one era to another.
Zeal means literally “to boil,” while patience means literally “to suffer.” We are not sufficiently engaged in faith to either boil with rage or enthusiasm. We are not sufficiently committed in faith to suffer its joys or its failings. This could be because the church holds so little power, and because it is power that holds us in such thrall that all else fails by comparison. It is difficult to feel either zeal or patience for any but the most consequential things – like our own careers and accomplishments, our own influence, our own authority and security.
The church, the people of God, will survive this time and this generation. It will make its way from what it has been to what it shall be. Yet, what of us? Where and what shall we be in this time of transition? As we remember the example of and assess the small ministry of Ninian, we offer thanksgiving for his life: “the link.” We ponder the ministry of “the link,” remembering that the strongest chain is no stronger than its weakest link.
