Psalm 103:1-8; Isaiah 40:31; 41:9-10, 13; Numbers 6:24-26; John 14:1-6
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
The name Susan is of Hebrew origin, shushan, which means “lily.” From this comes the biblical name Shoshannah, and the modern name Suzanne or Susan. The name indicates purity, beauty, and innocence, qualities that aptly describe our Susan whom we remember, give thanks for, and commend to the Lord this day. Anyone who knew Susan knew that she was kind, softspoken, caring, and compassionate. She was a very patient, loving, and forgiving soul. However, she was also fiercely protective of her children and she wouldn’t hesitate to correct bad manners. One time at a car race someone in the crowd brushed Cheryl with a cigarette and Susan scolded them. Another time she yelled at someone who had thrown garbage out on the ground; it was a bad example for her children. This is simply to say that, while Susan was a quiet and peaceful woman, she was also strong in her beliefs and convictions, and you would be wrong to underestimate her.
Faith and family were of most importance to Susan. Whether it was trips to Daytona for the races, trips to Branson for shows, hiking at Backbone State Park, or getting together with family to watch the Superbowl commercials, play games, and to celebrate the holidays and family milestones, Sunday was for church no matter where you were, and a prayer of thanksgiving was to be offered before meals. Faith and family, not even divorce could change that. Susan harbored no bitterness. She forgave and she maintained relationships with those who had hurt her in the past, just like a child of God is supposed to do. Susan made certain her children received a good Chrisitan education. She made the sacrifice to send them to Catholic school, which was quite expensive. Christian morality, values, and ethics were important to Susan and worth it. Every night family meals were eaten together, and there were prayer vigils at night as the family knelt around a cedar chest altar in the candlelight.
Why did Susan love in this way? Because she knew the love of God in Jesus Christ. Why did Susan forgive in this way? Because she knew the forgiveness of God in Jesus Christ. Why did Susan value faith and family in this way? Because she knew it was all God’s good gift to her: Love, family, faith, home, meals, life, all of it – Gift, pure gift – and she was grateful. “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Susan’s love, faith, and family expanded when she married Hank in 1995. Susan and Hank met at a Christian single’s group in Cedar Falls where they enjoyed potlucks, dancing, volleyball, softball, and all sorts of social activities and events. They dated nearly five years before finally getting married. All that while they enjoyed their friends and fellowship at the single’s group and spent time with their families, Hank’s brothers and sisters, Susan’s kids, over many meals and games and holidays, etc. After their marriage they visited the House on the Rock during a week-long honeymoon. They played bingo at the Electric Park Ballroom and attended many dances there where the waltzes filled the floor.
Hank and Susan joined St. John in 2001 where they became an active and vibrant part of the congregation. Susan was a member of the Dorcas Society and helped with countless mission events and funeral luncheons. She also sewed baby gowns for Diana’s Angels which provides gowns and comfort for the parents of stillborn children and children who die shortly after birth. In my tenure here at St. John Hank and Susan have been faithful every Sunday attendees of the Divine Service and Bible study, and when they moved to Bartels, they worshiped on Thursdays at the LCMS Divine Service and continued to share their faith, hope, and love with all they encountered.
Shushan, Shoshannah, Susan, lily, Easter Lily? Our dear Susan died the morning of Holy Saturday, the day Jesus rested in the tomb between His crucifixion and death on Good Friday and His glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday. How symbolic it is that Saturday she fell asleep in Jesus and not even a moment later she was awake and alive in His presence. Where do I get this idea, you ask? I get it from our Lord Jesus Himself who taught, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death” (John 8:51). “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24).” “I am the resurrection and the life. […] Whoever lives and believes in Me will never die” (John 11:25-26). Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! The stone is forever rolled away. The tomb is forever empty. Christ is forever risen and can never die again. And those who die in the Lord, like Susan died in the Lord, are with Him. They are not waiting to be with Him, but they are with Him right now, immediately, and no one can take that joy from them.
Susan was ready to meet her Jesus. All she wanted was to close her eyes in sleep and then open them and behold His face. Susan got her wish, and we should be happy for her. I know that we are, we are happy for her, but we also miss her, and we are sad for that. And that is not bad, not in the least. We were not created to die, but to live with our LORD in His presence forever. Death is not natural, but it is the most unnatural thing in the world. In death, God’s good creation of an embodied soul, created in His image, is ripped apart; the body returns to the dust from which it was made, and the soul returns to its Creator who made it (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Death is not good. There is nothing good about death. Your tears and your sorrow are justified. But death has been defeated. The tomb is empty. Christ is risen. Blessed are those who die in the Lord, for they are with Him. Susan is with Jesus, where there are no tears, no difficulty breathing, no Parkinson’s, no water-burdened heart, no pain, no suffering, no lack of any good thing, and no death.
Let not your hearts be troubled. In my Father’s house are many rooms. I have gone there to prepare a place for you, and soon I will come to take you to myself. I am the way, the truth, and the life. I am the way, the only way, to our Father. The Father gave His only-begotten Son over to death on the cross to purchase Susan, and to purchase you, for Himself to live with Him forever. This is the day that the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
In the + Name of Jesus. Amen.
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