Holy Amnesia

A reflection by Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.”

John 14:1-3

This Gospel is so precious.  I love to think about how in heaven, all evil will be forgotten, because evil cannot be in heaven.  There will be a holy amnesia.  You won’t remember anything evil that has been done to you. 

It’s like when you’re working with people with dementia, and they greet you with a big, “Hello!  How are you?  It’s so good to see you!” no matter who you are.  Isn’t that sort of a touch of heaven?  It’s a touch of heaven when nothing evil is remembered.

And even those who have hurt us, when we get to heaven, we will be able to greet like our best friends.  “How good to see you…”

So holy amnesia is a beautiful thing – we can even try to do it today.