It is still Easter. In the Christian tradition, Easter lasts for eight days. Today is Easter Tuesday. Every day this week is a high feast day. Every day, when we wake up, we can say with a special awareness, "This is the day the Lord has made. / Let us rejoice and be glad." And the week culminates in the Second Sunday, the Octave of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday. Mercy: God's love manifested as His tender and faithful response to our helplessness.
God's mercy is always there. Perhaps you do not have feelings of cheerfulness and brightness this week. Trials, suffering, and pain don't necessarily observe the liturgical year. For some people, it may be a lonely week. Christ is risen, but you are still sick. You are still depressed. You are still afraid. Your spouse is still far away. You are still separated from those you love. You are still a messed up, struggling, confused human being.
But God's mercy is still real. It surrounds you. It upholds you. The Resurrection means this above all: that God's mercy triumphs. The risen body of Jesus bears the wounds of the Cross. Even the wounds are transformed.
Your wounds are not an obstacle to God. He only wants you to give them to Him. He wants to take your wounds inside of His. Whatever your pain is, give it especially to Him this week. He has promised you joy.
Trust in Him.
