Bp Miller’s Musings: Synod Assembly Theme

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

The theme for this year’s assembly comes from a hymn: Great Is Thy Faithfulness (ELW 733). The hymn proclaims God’s relentless compassion and acts of mercy toward us. Although not explicit in the text, we are reminded of our call to emulate this compassion in our relationships with others.

The first verse of the hymn extols God’s unchangeable nature. Having created in love, God does not, cannot forsake this creation. Instead, God’s compassion remains as strong as in the beginning, a compassion that works for the life of the world.

The creation bears witness to the working of God’s mercy. The changing seasons, the shifting patterns in the celestial objects: these demonstrate through their constant renewal the love God has for us, providing abundantly for our needs. Contemplating these movements, we are reminded of the power greater than our own that seeks our well-being.

Because God has been and remains faithful in showing compassion to this creation, God can only react to our failure to live up to the ideal of creation by forgiving. Pardon for sin is not optional but a core of God’s being. This forgiveness is shown in an abiding presence in God’s people, a presence that moves us to our own compassion for the world.

When we observe what God does to sustain us and all creation, providing even when we know we do not deserve, we are moved to praise God along with the hymnwriter. That our praises not be empty, we seek to emulate the creator, showing mercy to those with whom God has chosen to ally, the hungry and thirsty, stranger and naked, sick and imprisoned (Matt. 25). In doing so, we join with the natural elements in their witness to God’s love.

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.