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People who live their lives on the foundation of Easter's messages have to be wondering this weekend why so many people, and why so many leaders in all categories of leadership, refuse to do so.
Tyrants around the world, unscrupulous leaders and violent and not-so-violent criminals are carrying out myriad forms of dishonest and evil acts, all as if the messages of Easter did not exist.
What kind of cataclysmic wake-up call does the world need to start getting things right, once and for all? The pandemic didn't provide that incentive; it merely exacerbated invective.
St. Mark is quoted in the Scriptures as saying that signs of the Last Day, after what he describes as the tribulation, will be the darkening of the sun, the moon not giving her light and the stars of heaven falling. Scriptures mention a great earthquake and talk about destruction of every sovereignty, every authority and every power.
Is the world unknowingly setting the stage for all that? Those are things to ponder this Easter.
Easter should be embraced as a joyous time and a victory over darkness. But many people remain caught up in darkness by way of their actions, with no imaginable escape route.
Still, something must change -- change markedly.
Like it or not, this Easter a lot of serious soul-searching and examination of conscience are needed, even with the rejoicing over Jesus Christ's victory over death.
How much of that will happen? No one currently on earth can say for sure.
Coming months and years, though, will be the indicator of what did and did not happen during this Easter observance.
There was a time not too long ago when, despite the challenges faced, brightly colored Easter eggs, Easter egg hunts, new Easter attire and children's excitement over their Easter baskets could wipe away troubles, even if only for a short time. But is that really possible today?
Scriptures say that darkness enveloped the land on Good Friday when Jesus died on the cross on Mount Calvary. Will a sense of darkness -- even if not an actual physical-like darkness -- continue to envelop this planet, despite the victory that Easter symbolizes?
"Happy Easter" is the universal message and greeting today, but do your part to actually make it so. In the spirit of Christ's resurrection, extend happiness to others, especially to those alone suffering some affliction or personal tragedy or heartache.
But also, do not fail to use part of this weekend to reflect on the meaning of this Christian celebration of victory over sin and how it was received on that first Easter morning.
In its April 3-4, 2021, edition, the Wall Street Journal published an article written by the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, who observed that the grave of a hero is a place of serene contemplation, but the tomb of Jesus was so disturbing that people ran from it.
But beyond that, as Pope Francis pointed out during his Easter message of 2016, despite all that is wrong in the world, Easter remains a feast of hope -- a celebration of God's mercy -- providing the incentive to reconcile with God and resurrect hope in others.
The world needs millions more people willing to recommit themselves to breathing new life into that incentive -- for the good of all.