Everything and Nothing

​​A Reflection on the Second Reading for Sunday, November 2nd, 2025:
​The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

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Revelation 21.1-5a, 6b-7

Then I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among humans. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.”

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

​​Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Wow, these verses from Revelation stir up all kinds of feelings in my heart. What a beautiful presentation of Heaven - where there is no longer any pain or suffering. Evil will cease to exist, and God’s people will be in total communion with Him. There will be a new Heaven and a new Earth. I can’t say that I fully understand what this means, but I know I feel hopeful and excited. 
 
I remember a particular physics class in university where our professor taught us about black holes. A black hole happens when a massive star (much larger than our sun) runs out of fuel and collapses on itself. It is a region in space where gravity is so strong that nothing - not even light - can escape from it. My head has a hard time wrapping itself around this concept of density so great, so intense, that planets that veer too closely can be pulled in, never to be seen again. Despite the awe I feel when I think about the vastness of the universe, it absolutely warps my brain to think that God is bigger, wider, taller, and deeper than the universe itself. He is outside of space and time. In fact, He created space and time! No black hole can destroy His light. It reminds me of my littleness. Not in a bad way, like I am insignificant, but rather in comparison to the eternal Jesus and the glorious Heaven that He is offering us. I oscillate between feeling that nothing really matters and feeling like everything really matters. Everything in the sense that each and every day is an opportunity to grow deeper in relationship with Jesus. To learn more about Him and to make every attempt, no matter how feeble, to follow Him towards His kingdom. And conversely, if I never get to see the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Great Wall of China, or the Great Barrier Reef, it doesn’t really matter because I know there will be something even greater and more spectacular to see in Heaven. And if I never again fall in love, or never get married, I am confident that there will be a Love like I’ve never known, waiting to sweep me off my feet in the new Jerusalem. 
 
When I feel overwhelmed by the sameness of each day or by the utter chaos going on in our world, I look to our Lord and I find comfort. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He holds my future in the palm of His hand. A future with no mourning or crying where all the desires of my heart will be satisfied. I am invited to drink deeply from the spring of the water of life and to thirst no more.




Lisa Matheson

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