Catechism 08/50 - The Gospels

Bishop Sheen discusses the four Gospels of the New Testament, explaining their different audiences and purposes. He begins with Matthew, who wrote primarily for a Jewish audience to demonstrate that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Matthew frequently quotes from the Old Testament to support this argument.

Next, Bishop Sheen discusses Mark, who wrote for a Roman audience. Mark emphasizes the authority and power of Jesus as he establishes dominion over evil and nature. He likely had the apostle Peter as an eyewitness source for his account.

Luke, on the other hand, wrote for a Greek audience. As a physician, he uses medical terms and shows a preference for stories of healing. Luke also narrates the virgin birth.

Finally, Bishop Sheen examines John's Gospel, which was written for a Christian audience. John focuses on the spiritual aspects of Jesus' ministry and provides insights into his deepest thoughts. He had the advantage of writing after the other Gospels and could presume that his readers already knew about the life of Christ.

Bishop Sheen concludes by highlighting the unique contributions of each Gospel and their importance in understanding the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.