Homily: Suzie Budde

Suzie Budde Jn. 11:17-27

                Today, we come here to celebrate the funeral Mass of Suzie Budde, a true friend of Jesus. Throughout the history of the church there have been many women who have been friends of Jesus. We remember those first women who knew Jesus intimately. At the very beginning there were people like Martha and Mary who we read about a few moments ago.

                The two sisters had different personalities. We remember the story of Jesus coming to their home. Jesus was preaching in the living room. Everyone was gathered around him. Mary the introvert sat placidly at Jesus’ feet absorbing every word. Meanwhile Martha, the extravert, was moving around the house trying to show hospitality to the guests Jesus had brought into the home. In Middle Eastern culture showing hospitality to guests, even unexpected guests, was considered of utmost importance. As we recall, Martha becomes agitated with her sister for not paying attention to this obligation. Jesus seems to chastise Martha being too concerned about the details of hospitality. Mary, he says, has her priorities straight. Jesus reminds Martha it is prayer first, then action.

                We get a sense that Martha wasn’t afraid to confront Jesus if she was disappointed. She said what she thought. We see that in the story we read this morning. When Jesus comes to Bethany after the death of Lazarus Martha runs out to meet Jesus while Mary sits at home. Martha seems to challenge Jesus once again. She says, “Lord if you would have been here my brother would never have died.” We would think that Jesus wouldn’t have appreciated Martha’s bluntness. But we are told just a few lines earlier in this Gospel story very clearly that “Jesus loved Martha and her sister Mary and Lazarus.” Isn’t it interesting that Martha is mentioned first in this list? True friendship is shown when friends tell each other what they don’t like to hear. In an authentic friendship the relationship isn’t damaged by speaking the truth. Jesus’ friendship with Martha only grew stronger with the honesty they displayed toward each other.

                As I said before, Suzie was a true friend of Jesus. She began that friendship when she was growing up at Sacred Heart, Rock Island. She would speak fondly of those days. Her family’s connection to the church was very important to her. Suzie would often speak of the relationship she had with the priests and the sisters of her youth. Throughout her life she loved to interact with clergy. She loved her family; she tried to take care of each member of her family. Dan has expressed often in the last few days that Suzie was the glue that held her family together. She was at the center of every family activity. She always was the life of the party.

                Music was central to her life. Her voice was a gift. She shared that gift with her church family. She sang at thousands of sacramental celebrations throughout our area. She generously shared her voice with multiple parishes. She was a wonderful leader of many choirs in her life.

                In the 1990’s she began to work at Sacred Heart, Moline. Fr. Lee asked her to come here to lead several music groups. Eventually, he asked her to become his administrative assistant. She worked in that capacity until last Sunday morning when God called her home.

                For Suzie working for the church wasn’t just a job it was a vocation. She was the Martha that people would first encounter when they came to our parish. She wanted to answer every phone call, she wanted to be the one that would listen to every problem. If people wanted to ask a question about a church matter the first thought was to call Suzie. She would know the answers. If people had a personal problem and they wanted an ear to listen, they would call Suzie. She wore her emotions on her sleeve. She laughed easily. She cried just as easily. She consoled many a person who had experienced loss. She calmed many a nervous bride preparing for marriage. She comforted parishioners in crisis.

                During the last few years Suzie experienced multiple health problems. Each time she had surgery she would take a few days and before you knew it, she would be working from home. Her constant refrain was, “I love my job.” What a gift it is to love what you do. Suzie loved church ministry.

                Jesus came to Martha at a time of great loss. We get a sense that the grief that both felt as they thought of Lazarus was a shared grief. Jesus cried, so did Martha. More importantly, Martha expressed her faith. Jesus then shared his faith. The two of them experienced mutual consolation. Faith was the key.

                Today we feel a sense of desolation but that doesn’t mean that God is absent. How do we make it through times of trouble? We do it the way Jesus and Martha did. We share our burden with our friends. We cry. We share good memories. We speak to our loving savior Jesus. We know as Martha and Jesus knew that death is not our destiny. Eternal life is our destiny. Let us share that belief in resurrection today as Jesus and Martha did. Mutual faith was the balm that salved the pain they felt. May the shared faith in this room lift us up. The Lord has taken his friend Suzie home. She shares in the resurrection. She now sings a perpetual hallelujah with the angels. May we look forward to that day when after a good life we will sing the same song.