Sunday’s Coming

Rest and resurrection (Revelation 7:9-17)

From dust I came and to dust I shall return—but not forever.

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For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.

I don’t know what I will be, but eventually, in some endgame of God, let me be like Jesus. I can’t tell you how many times I have reached this conclusion when asked about the resurrection of the faithful, or given this answer as an alternative to the certainty of “going to heaven.” The All Saints’ passage from the Revelation to John is a scene for Peter Jackson to make visual—the intensity of light and the impact of a myriad of creatures who have fought the great fight and prevailed.