FUNERAL OF MADAM COMFORT EDU-ACQUAH (August 8, 1940 – June 22, 2025)
ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER CHURCH, C8, TEMA
ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2025
HOMILY BY BISHOP JOHN KOBINA LOUIS
THEME: THEIR GOOD DEEDS WILL FOLLOW THEM
READINGS: Revelation 14:13 & Matthew 25:31-46
OUTLINE
- Introduction
- The Good Deeds that follow us according to Matthew 25:31-46
- Mama Comfort’s Life of Selfless Service
- Some Lessons for us
- Conclusion
0.1 INTRODUCTION
Dear Sister Getty, Mansa, Dolly, Anita, Joojo, Fr. Filton-Mensah, the several other adopted children of Madam Comfort Edu-Acquah, the elders, grandchildren, and other members of the family of Mama Comfort, I wish to express to you the condolences of all mourners gathered here.
Beloved, we gather here today to pray for the soul of Madam Comfort Edu-Acquah, a devout Catholic, a loving mother, an industrious woman, and a generous lady. As we grieve her passing, we are reminded of a great truth: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they will rest from their labour, for their deeds will follow them” (Rev. 14:13). Hence, the theme of this homily: “Their Good Deeds will follow Them”.
1.0 THE GOOD DEEDS THAT FOLLOW US ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 25:31-46
Our deeds, whether good or bad, follow us after death. Whereas the good deeds attract God’s eternal blessing, the bad ones draw punishment. Here, we wish to focus on the good deeds. So, which deeds does our Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal Judge, consider as good such that they still have value even after our death? In the parable of the Final Judgment recorded in Matthew 25:31-46, our Lord Jesus gives us six (6) of the good deeds that follow us after death. They are:
- Feeding the Hungry
- Giving Drink to the Thirsty
- Welcoming the Stranger
- Clothing the Naked
- Caring for the Sick
- Visiting the Imprisoned
These acts of charity to the needy are not mere nice gestures but acts of kindness to Jesus Himself who identifies with the human beneficiaries. Thus, He says that whatever we do to the least of the brethren we do it unto Him (cf. Matt. 25:40). And since Jesus has conquered death and lives forever, these acts of kindness assume a value beyond the grave – an inestimable and everlasting value (unlike the Ghana Cedi whose value was promised to remain “the same” [constant] but has drastically depreciated since the re-denomination in 2007).
2.0 MAMA COMFORT’S LIFE OF SELFLESS SERVICE
Having worked in the then Barclays Bank from the age of 22 years and developed a business acumen early in her life, Mama Comfort embraced the principle of saving for the future. As a Christian, then, she quickly made a connection between saving for one’s retirement and saving for eternal life through a life of service to Christ and those whom He considers as His brothers and sisters.
Thus, Mama Comfort would demonstrate her love for Christ not only to her children and family, but also to others including the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick and prisoners. She lived up to her name, Comfort. She brought comfort to many people. Let us reflect further on how she lived out the good deeds.
2.1 The Hungry, Thirsty, Stranger and Naked
Madam Comfort was well known for her generosity, especially when it came to feeding others, giving water to the thirsty, welcoming strangers and clothing the naked. She often opened her home to those in need, making sure that no one went hungry on her watch. On a personal note, when she got to know that the St. Joseph the Worker mission house cook was off duty on Sundays, she and her first daughter provided us with food gratis. This is a practice her family has continued for over 25 years.
Again, she became a staunch member of the St. Vincent the Paul Society so that she could join hands with other charitable Catholics to expand and sustain the care for needy people.
Moreover, in line with the Chinese proverb which says that it is better to teach a person how to fish than to give him/her a fish, she created jobs for many, so that they could provide for themselves in a more sustainable manner.
2.2 Caring for the Sick
Mama Comfort’s motherly instincts extended beyond her own children and the several children she adopted. She sometimes visited the sick wards of the St. Vincent the Paul Society and sick members of the Basic Christian Community which met at her residence.
2.3 Visiting the Imprisoned
While she didn’t pay regular visits to the prisons, Mama Comfort reached out to those who were “imprisoned” by their circumstances—the lonely, the depressed, the broken-hearted. She was a constant source of encouragement to those who felt trapped in their own struggles.
2.4 The Deeds that Follow Her
As we reflect on these deeds of love and service, we realize that Mama Comfort’s actions were not just acts of kindness; they were acts of faith. She did not do these things to receive praise or recognition, but because she loved Christ, and believed that in serving others, she served Him.
Convinced of the present and future blessings associated with generous giving, Mama Comfort inspired parishioners here and elsewhere to give generously through tithing. It was through her idea and efforts that we introduced tithing in this parish in 1994.
3.0 SOME LESSONS FOR US
As we bid farewell to Mama Comfort, we are reminded that our deeds will follow us. What legacy will we leave behind? What deeds will follow us into eternity when our time comes? Let us learn from her example:
Firstly, let us live a life of generosity: this is not just about giving money but about giving of ourselves.
Secondly, let us embrace everyone as family: we are called to extend Christ’s love to everyone, especially the lonely and needy. There is no stranger in the family of God.
Thirdly, let us serve with love and humility: Our acts of service should never be about recognition, but about reflecting the love of Christ.
Fourthly, we should not wait to make a difference: The time is now. Mama Comfort lost her father in her childhood and for most part of her adult life she was a single parent, yet she was generous, welcoming, loving and humble. So, we don’t have to wait for a grand moment to serve others; it can be in the small acts of kindness we do every day.
4.0 CONCLUSION
Let us continue the legacy of Mama Comfort by living lives that reflect the love of Christ — lives that care for the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned.
Finally, may God grant her eternal rest, and may her memory inspire us all to bring comfort to others with love and humility until the day we, too, are called home. Amen.
