Susan S. Pingal Funeral: Death - an invasive species

Introduction

I first knew about Dr. Gladden & Ma’am Pinky Flores when they served the Adventist world church at SSD. I met them once but got no chance to be close and personal to them until last December 2021 during the Library Faculty and staff Christmas get-together.

The opening conversation we had was about their beloved mother Susan S. Pingal. It was about their trip from Surigao to MVC where, along the way, Mom Susan met a freak accident that confined her in the hospital for sometime. In our later conversation, I was informed that Mom Susan had been home recovering very well from that accident. However, earlier this week, I read from the MVC Official group chat Dr. Gladden’s request to pray for Mom Susan for her speedy recovery from an unforeseen illness. Eventually, she slept and rested in the Lord two days ago.

In my recent conversation with Ma’am Pinky, she related to me her memorable moments with Mom Susan. There are much to be told but let me tell you about the excerpts of those moments and the character traits of Mom that I discovered from that conversation. She’s a daring and adventurous Mom because she travels to some parts of the world, to Palau, Thailand, and some places around, ALONE in her old age! She’s compassionate and loving because she looked after the welfare of her children, in-laws, and grandchildren alike with all her heart. She’s also a resilient Mom able to take care of business in spite of her advancing age for the sake of her family. She left her business only at that time she was told by Ma’am Pinky’s brother to cease from her business to seek her own welfare. These memorable moments and character traits worthy to be emulated are indelible marks that would surely be missed by the family. Mom Susan had indeed lived a fruitful life of 84 years!

As much desire the family has that Mom Susan would live longer, time has caught up with her so that she has to rest in the grave. The desire for her to live longer means that death is not a welcome sight. This unwelcome sight is reflected in the words of Ma’am Pinky saying, “Gi atiman namo na siya 24/7, but, unsa-on taman!”

Death is an alien species! It was never here in this world in the beginning! Everything that God had created in the beginning were all good. But, the archenemy introduced it to our first parents and it was readily accepted. Death became vicious attacking every man right even before he was even born! It become very destructive that caused man grief and sadness.

The Bible records stories of grief and sadness because of the death of a loved-one. Abraham mourned and wept for his wife (Gen 23:2). Joseph fell upon his father and wept over him and kissed him (Gen 50:1) and his family and friends “lamented loudly and bitterly” (Gen 50:1).

The psalmist records the reality of death. Ps 90:10 “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.” The psalmist indicates that “Even when a person lives out the full life span of seventy years—and, in exceptional cases, eighty years—all that person experiences is toil and trouble; life is over quickly and we fly away.”1 70 years is all we have. If a person is strong, he may live eighty years. Our consolation is that Mom Susan had lived more than the exception. She lived 84 years!

Body:

The psalmist adds, Ps 116:3 “The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.” According to Derek Kidner, this passage indicates the Old Testament concept that “death and Sheol are aggressive, clutching at the living to waste them with sickness or crush them with despondency.”2

What comfort can we get from these passages? Michael R. Lombardo states that “God does not condemn our grief and sadness but understands them as a normal part of human experience.”3 It means that it is okay to grieve and to be sad. It does not mean that one should avoid the pain caused by the lose of a loved one. It also means that “we live in a world full of pain, separation, and death” (1 Cor 15:56). Yet, it also means that there is hope beyond the grave.

Where then is our hope coming from? We take our consolation in Jesus alone.

1) Jesus loves us. Just as he loves Lazarus, he loves everyone of us. Great is his love that he came to earth to die for our sake (John 3:16) that we may “have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). What we need is to believe that we have that life now. May we say the same words as Martha stating, John 11:22 “But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”

2) God knows and understands our sorrows. Yes, our faith may be shaken or even shattered because of grief. However, remember that Jesus shared our emotions and feelings. He told his disciples, Matt 26:38 “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” “Jesus grieved at the time of Lazarus’ death (John 11). He cried, and others observed “‘how He loved him!’” (John 11:36) … He grieved for the pain and anguish that Mary and Martha had to experience.”4 He grieves with us because of the hurt and pain in losing our beloved Mom Susan.

Yet, our “weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Ps 30:5). Why?

3) We look forward to that blessed hope and glorious appearing of Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13; Col 3:4). At the time Mary and Martha were grieving because of the death of their beloved brother, Jesus came to comfort them at the most opportune time. He comforted them by raising their brother Lazarus from the grave. This incident teaches us that when he comes again, Jesus would ultimately fulfil his mission as the ‘resurection and the life.’ Those who believe in him “though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25, 26, ESV).

Conclusion:

When he comes, Rev 21:4 “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

1 Thess 4:13-14 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

15According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,w will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God,a and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the cloudsd to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lorde forever. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words (NIV, 1 Th 4:15–18).

God bless!

1Robert G. Bratcher and William David Reyburn, A Translator’s Handbook on the Book of Psalms, UBS Handbook Series (New York: United Bible Societies, 1991), 797.

2Derek Kidner, Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 16 of Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1975), 443.

3Michael R. Lombardo, “Grief and Faith,” MInistry Magazine, https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/2008/07/grief-and-faith.html

4Ibid.