FUNERAL OF THE LATE MRS. VICTORIA ESI NYARKOA ASIEDU (SEPTEMBER 8, 1931 -OCTOBER 6, 2024)
AT THE HOLY SPIRIT CATHEDRAL
ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2024
HOMILY BY BISHOP JOHN KOBINA LOUIS
READINGS: 2 Timothy 4:6-8 & John 14:1-6
INTRODUCTION
I wish to express condolences to the children of the late Mrs. Victoria Asiedu as well as to the entire Asiedu, Bruce and allied families. The loss of a mother is not easy to bear even if she died at the age of 100 years or more. However, in the light of the Psalmist’s assertion that our lifespan is 70 years and 80 years for the strong ones (cf. Psalm 90), we have to thank God for granting Mrs. Asiedu 93 good years.
OUTLINE
- The birthday and date of death of Mrs. Victoria Asiedu
- Jesus is gone to prepare a place for us
- Let us prepare ourselves as the Lord prepares for us
- Let us keep the faith till the end
- THE BIRTHDAY AND DATE OF DEATH OF MRS. VICTORIA ASIEDU
Firstly, she was born on a Sunday, the day of Christ’s victory over death. No wonder, she was named “Victoria”. Then, this year, Grandma Victoria celebrated her 93rd birthday on a Sunday, the day of Christ’s victory and eventually exited this world on another day of Christ’s victory (Sunday, 6th October). May Christ, who had so favoured Grandma Victoria, grant her the ultimate victory of the resurrection!
Furthermore, from birth to death Grandma Victoria was specially connected with the Mother of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary. That is, she was born on the day the Catholic Church celebrates the birthday of Mother Mary: 8th September. Also, Grandma Victoria died in October which is the Month of the Holy Rosary, and more specifically, she died on the eve of the feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. May Mother Mary to whom Grandma often said: “… Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death”, ‘alert’ her Son Jesus Christ of her constant prayers for Grandma especially at the hour of the latter’s death.
- JESUS IS GONE TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR US
Whereas, a non-Canadian citizen, for instance, cannot process a Ghanaian child through adoption to become a Canadian citizen, a Canadian citizen could do so. Now, Jesus, did not only come from heaven to which He has already returned, He is the very King of heaven. And so with Him, we have the full assurance of being made citizens of heaven. Thus, according to the gospel reading, He says: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3).
Grandma Victoria believed that Jesus has prepared a place for her in heaven, and so she always looked forward to the moment when she would be with the Lord forever.
(Akan Song: Y3 fie bi w) sor’ [“We have a home in heaven”]).
- LET US PREPARE OURSELVES AS THE LORD PREPARES FOR US
A dad working abroad with an international organization had assured his son of securing for him a scholarship for studies abroad. The boy, however, took life easy in the absence of his father. He did not take his studies seriously and was disobedient to the mother. He failed his examinations and so he lost the opportunity to study abroad. So, then while our Lord Jesus is gone to prepare a place for us, we have to ready ourselves for His return to take us away.
How do we get ourselves ready? Our Lord provides the answer in the gospel reading: “Believe in God, [and] believe also in me” (John 14:1). And believe in Jesus as what? We are to believe in Him as the only sure way to know the truth about God and to enter into His heavenly presence and enjoy life without end: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
Mrs. Asiedu believed in God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. She also believed that Jesus is the only way, truth and life, and that no one goes to the Father except through. So, already in her youth, Mrs. Asiedu was passionate about salvation through only Jesus. For instance, while a teacher trainee at St. Monica’s Training College (Ashanti Mampong) in 1949-1951, she would preach in some surrounding villages. Subsequently, at her first teaching appointment at Fumesua (near Kumasi), she would gather children on Sundays to teach them the Gospel of Christ. Today, the seed of faith she sowed has become the Anglican Church in Fumesua.
- LET US KEEP THE FAITH TILL THE END
Preparing with faith for the heavenly place is not for a short period but for life. Thus, in the first reading, St. Paul testifies that he has kept faith till the end: “As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim. 4:6-7).
St. Paul uses two imageries of sports to illustrate his point: (a) The sport of fighting or boxing and (b) athletic race The good boxer does not sit idle while looking forward to a championship fight. Neither does the good athlete idle about while anticipating the Olympic games. They both work hard with self-discipline, sacrifice and determination; and then give off their best performance during the championship.
Similarly, while we are assured that Christ has gone to prepare a place of us in heaven, we should look forward for His return with hard work, self-discipline, sacrifice, determination, and give off our best performance. These were qualities which Mrs. Asiedu exhibited from her youth in her teaching career, marriage, family life, church life and social life well into her old age.
In her church life here at the Holy Spirit Cathedral for over 60 years, she was one of the first female ushers, a pioneer Marriage Counsellor, a patronness of the Cathedral Choir, a member of the then St. Augustine Akan Society, a Past Grand Lady of the Ladies of Marshall, a Financial Secretary of the National Council of Catholic Women, a Parish Pastoral Council members for several terms, etc. For rendering all these services and more with great dedication, sacrifice and faith, she was honoured as the Cathedral Mother of the Year in 2008.
Though old age, especially beyond 90 years, would not allowed her to be actively engaged in church life at the Cathedral, she nonetheless kept faith in the Lord till the end.
CONCLUSION
We thank God for the graces He gave Mrs. Asiedu to be victorious at birth, in her Christian life, education, teaching profession, marriage, family life, community, and length of life.
Moreover, she departed this life on the day of Christ’s victory over death! May the Victorious Christ, in whom she kept her faith till the end, receive her soul into Paradise! Amen!
