Funeral Sermon: Gus Sonneveld

One of my favorite parts of a funeral service is when people step forward to share their memories. I wish I knew Gus better. I wish I could give you a better sense of the man Gus is.

Gus wasn’t someone to push himself forward. A lot of my interaction with Gus was in the hall before worship services; he was quick with a wink, a joke, or a wry observation.

I saw him often in summertime b/c he often mowed the church lawn. On his rare breaks, if he had the notion to talk, he would share keen observations about the world or people. Conversation with Gus was always interesting .

Conversation w/ Gus was mentioned on the tribute page on the McKinlay website. Gus didn’t stand on a podium or in the town square to share his knowledge. He built rapport with people 1:1, making connections w/ nephews and nieces.

He was comfortable talking stuff over at a plastic table eating lunch with dirt on his fingernails, smelling faintly of gasoline. Summer students from the farm recall Gus’ wisdom, his self-depreciating humour, his sharp wit, and insightful remarks.

Neighbours on Shady Lane spoke of his approachability and willingness to chat, sharing his hard-won wisdom. It’s how he earned the respect of his neighbours.

Church friends from Chatham mentioned fond memories of when Gus lived nearby.

Friends at Crosspoint will miss him too. And not only b/c of his willingness to be funny. Some of you might remember a fundraising dinner for the YP to go to Kentucky: Gus gave an Elvis Presley impersonation as the lead singer of a quickly named group: Gus and the Froggettes.

What an awesome legacy to leave as an uncle, as an employer, and friend! I can only imagine the memories you have, Dina, from all your years of marriage and life together.

Gus loves growing things – you can tell from his yard on Shady Lane w/ its flowerbeds and gardens. His calling in life – growing plants for food – is something people have been doing since the dawn of time. Perhaps you remember from Genesis, the first book of the Bible, how God prepared a garden for Adam to live in. The trees were pleasing to the eye and good for food. At the heart of the garden of Eden grew the tree of life.

What a delight if all humankind could have grown up in the garden of Eden! Not just the fruit trees and the clear rivers, but the privilege of walking and talking with God in the cool of the day. That’s how life is supposed to be: God was their God and Adam & Eve were his people.

Sadly, that’s not where we grew up. Many people don’t live that closely with God. Sin and brokenness entered the world.

When Adam & Eve disobeyed, all of creation was thrown off kilter. Growing food from the ground was complicated and frustrated by thorns and thistles. Growing food became a chore. Vegetable farmers can tell you: growing food is hard work.

Worse yet, people no longer connect with each other in kindness and love. People no longer connect with God, accepting guidance and instruction from our heavenly Father. In kindness and love, God blocked the way to the tree of life so people could not eat the fruit from the tree of life and live apart from God forever.

Despite all the clever political and social and economic theories people subscribe to – the kind of stuff that Gus could deflate with a wry observation – people can’t fix the troubles of this world. The problems of the world aren’t solved by education or a new political structure. The only solution is for God to deal with the heart of the problem: human rebellion, human disobedience, in a word: sin.

That’s why Jesus came into his own creation. God himself entered the world and became human: a man named Jesus. Jesus offered himself as a scapegoat, a whipping-boy, to shoulder the consequences of sin and rebellion himself by dying the death that we deserve.

Jesus allowed himself to be beaten and crucified. He was hung on a tree. But in a miracle that only God could design, the Lord of Life made the cruel instrument of torture into the tree of life.

All who look to the cross of Jesus with faith are rescued and renewed. Faith in Jesus, the crucified one, allows you to live as God’s dearly loved child. He extends his promises and protection to you. The Lord becomes your God and you are adopted as his dearly loved child.

Gus had this comfort and assurance. I sat in the living room with Gus & Dina after his mother died. We spoke of the comfort that Jesus’ death and resurrection gives in the face of human death and grief. We have God’s word: If we die with Christ, we’ll also be raised to life with Christ.

Gus spoke of that assurance as his surgery approached. He & Dina were acutely aware that having 3 aneurysms repaired could lead to his death. He didn’t want to die; nobody does. But Gus approached the surgery with confidence, knowing that God was his God, and he was God’s child.

The last book of the Bible, Revelation, gives us a glimpse of the renewed creation. Now that Jesus has won the victory over sin and death, the whole world will be transformed! We see this transformation beginning in ourselves as we grow in faith but we’re counting the days ‘til Jesus returns and sets everything straight.

As someone who lives in the country, the prospect of living in a city seemed restrictive, even in the renewed creation. Streets of gold in the New Jerusalem might look really cool and massive gates of precious jewels are awe-inspiring, but what farmer really wants to live in a city for all eternity?

But the New Jerusalem is not a dry, concrete jungle. Both Psalm 46 and Revelation 22 speak of a river running through the city of God. There is no river like that in the current city of Jerusalem – the nearest river is ‘way down in the Jordan Valley. The city of God is teeming with life. It’s a gardener’s dream:

On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:2b (NIV)

Twelve crops! Better yet: the healing of the nations! Our world groans in expectation of the day when God will heal all ills.

Best of all, in the city of God, we have the assurance of living with God for all eternity. It’s the reality that gets highlighted in John’s vision:

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. Revelation 21:3 (NIV)

Gus no longer needs to live by faith. He has the privilege of seeing his God and Saviour face-to-face.

I don’t know how long it will be before Jesus returns and the world is renewed. I do know that Jesus has turned the cross into the tree of life. Looking to Jesus with faith brings healing and restored relationships. Jesus makes it possible to face death without fear. He makes it possible to have hope and even joy, when you’re eyes are full of tears and your heart is flooded with grief.

It's the promise that God give:

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4 (NIV)