On this Easter weekend, no one is alone in concerns and uncertainties they might be feeling. Many others are enduring similar anxieties, while others are feeling various degrees of emptiness because of circumstances in their lives — wondering how that emptiness might be resolved.

This holiday, grounded in the victory of Jesus Christ over death and opening the gates to salvation for mankind, should be one of joy, hope, reconciliation and resolution from the pains of daily life. Instead, events on the world, national and local “stages,” coupled with negative or otherwise dangerous human tendencies, goals and actions, often thrust those positive intents and outcomes into some difficult-to-discern corner, to be ignored or merely talked about without any sense of urgency or sincerity.

In his April 2019 Easter message, Altoona-Johnstown Catholic Diocese Bishop Mark L. Bartchak, quoting Pope Francis, reiterated the point that “however dark things are, goodness always re-emerges and spreads . . . and human persons have arisen time after time from situations that seemed doomed.”

So it must be hoped that the pope’s Palm Sunday message this year, about the “folly of war” leading people to commit “senseless acts of cruelty,” somehow helps to begin an awakening about what needs to be done to restore peace, not only in Ukraine but also in other places where conflicts are ongoing.

Despite all of the problems in the world and the various factors that seem hellbent on distracting people from that which Easter really is about, it remains joyful to watch children’s reactions when an Easter basket filled with chocolate bunnies, colorful jelly beans and numerous other kinds of Easter candy is before their eyes.

However, for adults, an “Easter basket” need not be an actual object of a certain length, width or depth to bring happiness and peace of mind.

What an “Easter basket” that helps family members resolve their differences and bring to an end long-standing animosities.

What an “Easter basket” that helps a husband and wife discuss openly the bases for problems and cause them to commit to putting an end to what is undermining their marriage.

What an “Easter basket” that helps a neighbor notice that a person next door is in need of help, leading to assistance for that person.

What an “Easter basket” that provides vision for people to see ways to help their community, rather than merely second-guess, criticize or mock it.

What an “Easter basket” that inspires a birth mother or birth father of a child given up for adoption as an infant to embrace the opportunity of finally meeting in person that daughter or son years later, even if she, he or they rejected that daughter or son’s attempt to arrange such contact in the past.

Scriptures say Jesus was raised from the dead. If given the opportunity, Easter today has the power to give life to previously unimagined harvests of peace of mind, joyfulness and contentment.