The Catholic faith is centered, undoubtedly, on the Resurrected Lord of all, ...

... Jesus Christ, Christus Victor!  By no means could we ever hope to comprehend this mystery as the climactic point of human history; yet, we can apprehend something meaningful about it.  Because we cannot wrap our minds around this mystery, we are instead forced to think about it from different perspectives.  There is no single dimension of the Resurrection that can provide us with a comprehensive understanding.  What follows are some different ways in which the central mystery of our faith is related to Catholic discipleship and common theological understandings.  Ideas have consequences.  Beliefs affect behavior; doctrine helps to determine devotion.  It is my hope and prayer that we will be more conscious of Easter Sunday throughout the liturgical year.  Let us now turn to Christ's Resurrection, and its relevance for all of our beliefs and practices as Catholics.

Easter and Theology
First, the Resurrection is a necessary prolegomenon (the study of the preconditions which make theology possible) for the Christian faith.  While it is true that "we believe in order to understand," it is equally true to say that "the more we authentically understand, the more disposed we are to have faith."  Genuine knowledge can be used by God as a springboard for Catholic faith.  Whether one wishes to theologize on the Resurrection as an act of forgiveness, or as the commencement of the new future, or as the establishment of the Apostles' proclamation, none of these are possible if Jesus' body still remains in the tomb (cf. 1 Cor 15:12-19).  That is why we need to defend the historicity of the Resurrection in order to make theology a genuine possibility.

The apologists' concerns also act as a call to reinvigorate what the late Cardinal Avery Dulles has called the "herald model of the church."  The case for Christ's Resurrection can be just one means through which the saints can become equipped to become confident in verbally sharing their faith (cf. Eph. 6:19; Col. 4:5, 6; 1 Pet. 3:15; Jude 3).  Apologetics reminds us of why we believe, and in whom we believe.  Building confidence might help believers to share the things we believe with others, and to face the suffering that is often accompanied by these exchanges.  By having good reasons for faith, we know that whom we believe can be backed with legitimate evidence.

The Resurrection appearances of Jesus from the dead are closely linked to the Church's mission (thus the branch of theology known as "missiology") to spread the good news.

Continue reading the Homiletic & Pastoral Review essay, "Christ's Resurrection and Theological Relevance", by Glenn B. Siniscalchi.