He is risen! Homily for Easter Sunday, Year C.

An empty tomb, of itself, does not prove that Jesus rose from the dead. However, the combination of the empty tomb and the appearances of the living Jesus explain why the disciples regathered and went forth to proclaim a very specific message - that Jesus Christ the Messiah, who died on a cross, had returned to life, and they were witnesses to this. The disciples were prepared to proclaim this message, even though it entailed great hardships and even death, because they were convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that they had seen Jesus Christ alive from the dead.