When people hurt us, we have the tendency to confront and give them a litany of the things that we have done for the person. “I did this… I did that…. I gave you this… I gave you that… I helped you with this… I helped you with that…. how can you be so ungrateful?”

During the passion and death of Christ, only one apostle was present – John. The rest were nowhere to be found. All of us have our own share of “fair-weather friends.” When times are good, they were all there. When you hit rock bottom, they are nowhere to be found.

Yet, what did Jesus say when he showed himself to his apostles? No sarcasm, no litany, no curses, no hurtful words. Just the greetings, “Peace be with you.” 

In speaking about love and forgiveness of God, three things we should remember:

1. God knows your sins but calls you by name. Satan knows you but calls you by your sin. While none of us are perfect and while all of us commit sins, we must remember that in the eyes of God, we are still his children, created in his image and likeness. He hates the sin but loves the sinner.
2. God’s Forgiveness. There is no sin he cannot forgive. For now, this may not be very important because we are strong and very much alive. In my many confessions of those who are about to pass away though, they always ask, “Has God really forgiven me of my sins?” God’s love is unconditional, unlimited, and complete.
3. Life is never perfect, but God is in control. Hence, everything happens for a reason and a purpose. When one hits rock bottom, just be strong and hopeful, count the many small blessings and miracles, and you will realize all happens for a reason and a purpose. 

The Divine Mercy of Jesus, also known as the Divine Mercy, is a Roman Catholic devotion to Jesus Christ associated with the reputed apparitions of Jesus revealed to Saint Faustina Kowalska. 

Sister Faustina Kowalska reported a number of apparitions during religious ecstasy which she wrote in her diary, later published as the book Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul. The three main themes of the devotion are:

• To ask for and obtain the mercy of God
• To trust in Christ’s abundant mercy
• To show mercy to others and act as a conduit for God’s mercy towards them

In other words, in a life wherein nothing is certain, God’s love and mercy grant us peace! As Christ said to his disciples, “Peace be with you.”