One who announces Good News, particularly the message of the gospel. Often refers exclusively to the four gospel writers Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John. The New Testament also uses this term in reference to Philip, the deacon, and Timothy, a worker with Paul.
Evangelizers take on the “smell of the sheep” and the sheep are willing to hear their voice.
—Pope Francis, Evangelii Guadium
We are all evangelists, but we almost always evangelize about the wrong things.
—Matthew Kelly
Saint Juan Diego, the peasant to whom Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared, is essentially the evangelizer of an entire hemisphere. —USCCB.org
All Christians are summoned to the role of evangelists, a term first used in reference to the gospel writers in the third century. As followers of Jesus, our common vocation is to bring Good News to the poor, sick, lonely, imprisoned, and socially marginalized. The words of the four primary evangelists—Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John—instruct us in the mission we're invited to share.
From Evangelii Nuntiandi (Evangelization in the Modern World): The world is calling for evangelizers to speak to it of a God whom the evangelists themselves should know and be familiar with [122].
Mission | Vocation | Gospel | Proclamation
Evangelist translates from Greek as "messenger of good tidings." All baptized persons are called to be such messengers. Isaiah speaks of the "beautiful feet" of those who bring Good News. Ephesians describes apostles, prophets, and evangelists as central players in the church. Biblically, evangelist is not an exclusive term.
By the third century, the formal list of evangelists is reduced to the four gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They concretized the Good News the church would proclaim going forward.
By the fourth century, the symbology of the four evangelists became standardized as man, lion, ox, and eagle. Facing the four directions, these extraordinary creatures are four and yet unified in movement. They also burn like hot coals. Matthew, whose gospel emphasizes Jesus' humanity, is represented by the man. Mark highlights Jesus' divinity and kingship, so is identified as the lion. Luke holds up the sacrificial role of Jesus and so becomes the ox. John is the eagle as his gospel soars with a transcendent perspective on Jesus as the Christ.
—Alice Camille, from Questions Catholics Ask
Mark was an evangelist, one who brings Good News. He was also one of the four evangelists who are credited with writing the gospels. Mark’s gospel is the shortest, but it packs a punch with its message of the suffering servant Jesus who endured defeat and death so that we all might be saved.
1 Peter 5:5b-14; Mark 16:15-20 (555)
:“Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”
Mark’s mission of sharing the Good News of our salvation didn’t stop with him. It extends to all who hear and believe the gospel. Bring the Good News to someone around you today.
Marcos era un evangelista, alguien que trae buenas noticias. También fue uno de los cuatro evangelistas a quienes se les atribuye la escritura de los evangelios. El evangelio de Marcos es el más corto, pero tiene un gran impacto con su mensaje del siervo sufriente Jesús, que soportó la derrota y la muerte para que todos pudiéramos ser salvos.
1 Pedro 5:5b-14; Marco 16:15-20 (555)
:“Vayan por todo el mundo y prediquen el Evangelio a toda creatura”.
La misión de Marcos de compartir las buenas nuevas de nuestra salvación no terminó con él. Se extiende a todos los que escuchan y creen en el evangelio. Trae las buenas noticias a alguien que te rodea hoy.