In the Review section of its March 26-27, 2016, edition, the Wall Street Journal featured an article, “The Challenge of Easter,” that began with the following question: “When was the last time you felt stressed out by Easter?”

Compared with Christmas preparations, the Easter stress level probably is negligible, but each person or family must be the actual judge of that.

The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest, author and editor at large of America magazine, who wrote the 2016 Journal article, answered the original question in part with another one, followed by an explanation:

“So how has Easter — with some notable exceptions, like ever-expanding Easter baskets with more and more expensive gifts for the kids — maintained its relative religious purity?

“Mainly, I would say, because of its subversive religious message: Christ is risen.”

That message of Christ’s victory is destined to remain the central point of people’s existence now and forever more, whether or not they live their lives dwelling much on that thought and reality.

Nevertheless, the opportunity is there for everyone, and wrapping one’s arms around the message — embracing it — is a means for coping with much of what is wrong with the world in which we live.

For example, look at the war fronts of today, most notably Iran and Ukraine, which every day seem no closer to achieving peace than they were a day ago, a month ago, or in Ukraine’s case, years ago, causing some people even here, no doubt, to wonder about Jesus’ intentions regarding this troubled planet.

“How can Jesus continue to allow this to happen?” might be words unspoken, but harbored within many people nonetheless. However, humans have been struggling with questions about Jesus and his motives since Christianity’s beginning and that struggle seems destined to continue as long as humans walk on this planet.

The struggle to achieve understanding now can be likened to the struggle of the first Christians to understand what they called “the Resurrection.”

“Their struggle to understand it brought about a revolution in their way of life — and astonishing worldly success for their faith” was part of the message of a Wall Street Journal article in the newspaper’s March 31-April 1, 2018, edition.

People’s faith is being tested now, but it is safe to say that it always will be.

How that “test” plays out — in a good way or in a bad one — will determine individuals’ standing in the afterlife that Scriptures emphasize so often.

In fact, that is what the Lenten weeks leading up to Easter are all about. Those weeks are aimed at strengthening people’s faith regarding whatever challenges they might encounter.

Major uncertainties for many Americans this Easter regarding the Iran conflict are how it might ultimately impact directly their own lives and possibly the lives of some family members, other loved ones and friends.

For that reason, burdensome fear and uncertainty are “alive and well” at this holiest time of the year — for many individuals and families — summoning more need for prayer than they have deemed necessary for a long time.

In 2016, the late Pope Francis, delivering his solemn blessing to the world, reminded people of all faiths that Easter is a feast of hope, a celebration of God’s mercy and a call to pray for and assist all who suffer.

The world would be a much better place if everyone sought to live in the way that the pope’s message envisioned.