The Gospel of Mark 101: A Course for Catholics

Join Fr. John R. Donahue, S.J., one of Catholicism’s leading Mark experts, in exploring the Gospel of Action.

Christianity was at a crossroads. The great apostles Peter and Paul had died. Members of the original Christian communities had passed. Jesus’ word might also soon be buried and forgotten. But it was Mark’s good news—not Matthew’s—that saved the faith.

Did you know that Matthew’s Gospel includes over 90 percent of Mark’s material? The Church has long revered both as divinely inspired. But for centuries, it was thought that Mark was the “orphan gospel,” simply a briefer version of Matthew. Most scholars now believe Mark was written first.

Did you know that Mark is the only Gospel in which the word that translates to “good news” actually appears? Although the shortest and most plainspoken of all the Gospels, it is also a crucial independent source on Jesus, His life and His ministry.

Boasting decades of scholarship on Mark, Fr. Donahue tells Jesus’ story through Mark’s eyes as Jesus faces evil, heals the sick, and urges us to examine how we live our own lives. Most importantly, you will see Jesus as not only divine, but as a man who died for the world’s sins.

These 12 talks will prove to be invaluable companions for anyone seeking a deeper and fuller understanding of this simple, but fulfilling, Gospel.

This course is part of the Learn25 collection and includes a free PDF study guide.