THE FEAST OF THE HOLY EVANGELISTS
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Four Witnesses to the One Gospel of Jesus Christ
Introduction
The Church received four canonical Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—and through them continues to hear the voice, witness the works, contemplate the mystery, and encounter the saving person of Jesus Christ.
The four Evangelists are different in background, literary style, theological emphasis, and the communities for whom they wrote. Yet they proclaim one Lord, one Gospel, one saving mystery, and one call to discipleship.
The Syro-Malabar Church celebrates the Feast of the Evangelists on the Third Friday of the Season of Denha. The official Syro-Malabar liturgical calendar assigns to this feast readings that include the four rivers flowing from Eden (Gen 2:5–17), Ezekiel’s vision of the four living creatures (Ezek 1:1, 4–14), the heavenly vision associated with the traditional symbols of the Evangelists (Rev 4:1–11), and the Parable of the Sower, in which the seed is the Word of God (Lk 8:4–15).
This celebration fits beautifully within Denha, the season of manifestation or revelation. The Syro-Malabar liturgical tradition explains that during Denha the Church commemorates those who bore witness to Christ as He was manifested to the world.
The Evangelists have a unique place among these witnesses because through their inspired writings the manifestation of Christ continues from generation to generation. They wrote with different voices, but all four announce the same Good News: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior of the world. He died for us, rose from the dead, and calls all people to believe in Him and become His disciples.
What Is an Evangelist?
The word evangelist comes from the Greek word associated with euangelion, meaning good news or Gospel. In the Christian tradition, the title “the four Evangelists” refers particularly to the authors traditionally associated with the four canonical Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
They did more than record a biography of Jesus. The Gospels are inspired proclamations of faith. They preserve the words and deeds of Jesus, His Passion, Death, and Resurrection, while helping different Christian communities understand what those events mean for salvation.
The Catechism describes the Gospels as holding a unique place because Jesus Christ is their center and because they are our principal source for His life and teaching.
The four books are therefore properly called:
the Gospel according to Matthew,
the Gospel according to Mark,
the Gospel according to Luke,
and the Gospel according to John.
There are four Gospel accounts, but only one Gospel: the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Why Four Gospels?
We might ask why the Church preserved four Gospels rather than combining them into one account. The answer is that the richness of Jesus Christ cannot be adequately expressed through only one perspective.
Imagine four people standing around a magnificent cathedral. Each sees the same building, but from a different viewpoint. One notices the entrance, another the towers, another the stained-glass windows, and another the sanctuary. Their descriptions differ, but they describe the same reality. Something similar happens in the four Gospels.
Matthew emphasizes Jesus as the Messiah and fulfillment of God’s promises.
Mark emphasizes Jesus as the suffering Son of God who calls us to discipleship.
Luke emphasizes Jesus as the merciful Savior of all humanity.
John emphasizes Jesus as the eternal Word and Son of God who gives eternal life.
None of these portraits competes with the others. Together they give the Church a richer understanding of Christ. The USCCB’s introduction to the Gospels similarly notes that the four canonical accounts share the same central focus on Jesus while differing in approach, arrangement, and theological emphasis.
The Common Message of the Four Evangelists
Although each Evangelist has distinctive themes, several truths unite all four Gospels.
1. Jesus Christ Is the Center
The Evangelists do not primarily proclaim an ethical system or philosophy. They proclaim a Person. Christianity begins with Jesus Christ. Each Gospel asks, in its own way: Who is Jesus? And each leads the reader toward faith in Him.
2. Jesus Announces the Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God is central to the public ministry of Jesus. In Christ, God’s saving reign has entered human history. Jesus calls people to conversion, faith, forgiveness, justice, mercy, love, and a new relationship with God.
3. Jesus Calls Disciples
The Gospels do not merely invite us to admire Jesus. They invite us to follow Him. Jesus says: “Come after me.” (Mk 1:17). Christian faith means becoming a disciple—learning from Christ, changing our life, carrying the cross, and sharing His mission.
4. The Cross Is Central
All four Gospels lead toward Jerusalem and the Passion. Jesus saves humanity not through political power or worldly success but through self-giving love. The Cross reveals the depth of God’s love.
5. Jesus Is Risen
The Gospel does not end at Calvary. The Crucified Lord is risen. The Resurrection confirms His identity and transforms frightened disciples into missionaries. Christian faith is therefore a faith of hope and victory.
6. The Gospel Must Be Proclaimed
The encounter with the risen Christ leads naturally to mission. The disciples cannot keep the Good News to themselves. The Evangelists themselves became servants of this mission by preserving and proclaiming the Gospel for future generations.
The Four Traditional Symbols of the Evangelists
Christian art has traditionally represented the Evangelists by four living creatures:
Matthew — a human figure or angel
Mark — a lion
Luke — an ox or calf
John — an eagle
These symbols developed from the visions of the four living creatures in Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4. The Church came to associate these figures with the four Gospel writers because each symbol seemed to express something characteristic of that Gospel.
The symbols also appear in churches, illuminated manuscripts, mosaics, icons, paintings, pulpits, and Gospel books throughout Christian history.
ST. MATTHEW THE EVANGELIST
Background
Matthew appears in the Gospel as a tax collector called personally by Jesus. Jesus saw him sitting at the customs post and said: “Follow me.” (Mt 9:9). Matthew immediately rose and followed Him.
The Gospel itself includes “Matthew the tax collector” among the Twelve (Mt 10:3). Pope Benedict XVI emphasized how remarkable this calling was because tax collectors were generally despised in Jewish society, yet Jesus welcomed Matthew into the intimate circle of His disciples.
Christian tradition identifies this Apostle with the Evangelist associated with the first Gospel. Historical-critical scholarship discusses the precise process by which the Gospel reached its final form, but the Church continues to receive it under its traditional title, The Gospel according to Matthew.
Matthew’s Audience
Matthew’s Gospel appears to have developed in a community deeply familiar with Jewish Scripture, traditions, and expectations concerning the Messiah, while also increasingly including Gentile Christians.
The USCCB introduction notes that Matthew’s Christian community seems originally to have had a strong Jewish-Christian character and later included a growing Gentile majority. That background helps explain why Matthew frequently says: “This happened to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet.” Matthew constantly connects Jesus with the Old Testament.
Matthew’s Portrait of Jesus
Matthew presents Jesus especially as:
the Messiah,
the Son of David,
the new Moses,
the authoritative Teacher,
Emmanuel—God with us,
and the founder of the Church.
Matthew begins with Jesus’ genealogy, linking Him with Abraham and David. He repeatedly shows that God’s promises to Israel reach their fulfillment in Christ.
Major Themes in Matthew
1. Jesus Fulfills Scripture.
A central message of Matthew is: God keeps His promises. Jesus does not appear without preparation. Israel’s entire history points toward Him.
2. Jesus the Teacher
Matthew gives special attention to the teaching of Jesus. His Gospel contains five great teaching sections, including:
- the Sermon on the Mount,
- the missionary discourse,
- the parables of the Kingdom,
- teaching about life within the community,
- and the discourse concerning the end times.
Matthew therefore presents Jesus almost as the new Moses, giving God’s people the fullness of divine teaching.
3. The Kingdom of Heaven
Matthew often uses the expression “Kingdom of heaven.” Jesus announces that God’s Kingdom has come near and calls people to repentance.
The Church
Matthew is the only Gospel to use the word “church” explicitly. Jesus tells Peter: “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.” (Mt 16:18)
Matthew therefore gives particular attention to the life, authority, forgiveness, discipline, and mission of the Christian community.
Matthew’s Symbol: The Human Figure or Angel
Matthew’s traditional symbol is a human figure, sometimes depicted as an angel. This association is often explained from the way his Gospel begins with the human genealogy of Jesus. Matthew emphasizes that the divine Son truly entered human history and became Emmanuel—God with us.
Matthew’s Message for Us
Matthew teaches us that: God calls sinners and transforms them into disciples. Matthew moved from the tax office to apostleship. His story reminds us that our past need not determine our future. Christ still says: “Follow me.”
Matthew also challenges Christians not merely to listen to the teaching of Jesus but to put it into practice: “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” (Mt 7:24). The Christian life must be built upon hearing and doing the Word of God.
ST. MARK THE EVANGELIST
Background
Mark’s Gospel is traditionally associated with John Mark, known from the Acts of the Apostles. His mother’s home in Jerusalem was a gathering place for Christians (Acts 12:12). Mark later accompanied Paul and Barnabas in missionary work and is also associated with St. Peter.
Ancient Christian tradition particularly connected Mark with the preaching of Peter, sometimes describing him as Peter’s interpreter. The USCCB notes both this ancient association and the Gospel’s likely connection with early Christian preaching and missionary tradition.
Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels and is commonly regarded by modern scholars as the earliest canonical Gospel.
Mark’s Audience
Mark appears to have written particularly for Gentile Christians, probably believers who were unfamiliar with some Jewish customs. The Gospel occasionally explains Jewish expressions and practices for its readers.
The USCCB introduction describes Mark’s audience as apparently Gentile and points to the Gospel’s concern with Christians facing persecution and the need for perseverance.
Mark’s Portrait of Jesus
Mark presents Jesus as:
the Son of God,
the powerful Messiah,
the suffering Servant,
and the Lord who gives His life for others.
The Gospel begins: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mk 1:1). From its first verse Mark tells us who Jesus is. But the disciples themselves take much longer to understand Him.
Major Themes in Mark
1. Action and Urgency
Mark’s Gospel moves rapidly. Jesus teaches, heals, casts out demons, forgives sins, confronts evil, and moves from one place to another.
The style creates a sense of urgency: the Kingdom of God has arrived, and a decision must be made.
2. The Identity of Jesus
Throughout Mark people ask: Who is this man? The disciples slowly discover His identity. At Caesarea Philippi Peter finally declares: “You are the Messiah.” (Mk 8:29)
But even then Peter does not understand what kind of Messiah Jesus will be.
3. The Cross
Mark strongly connects discipleship with the Cross. Jesus says: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mk 8:34).
Jesus Himself explains His mission: “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk 10:45). The USCCB identifies Jesus’ suffering, service, and sacrificial mission as central to Mark’s Christology.
Mark’s Symbol: The Lion
Mark’s traditional symbol is the lion. One explanation connects it with the voice crying in the wilderness at the beginning of Mark’s Gospel: “A voice of one crying out in the desert.” (Mk 1:3)
The lion also suggests courage, strength, and royal power.
Mark’s Message for Us
Mark teaches us that Christianity is not a life of comfort but a life of courageous discipleship. We often want Christ without the Cross. Mark reminds us that following Jesus requires sacrifice, perseverance, service, and faithfulness.
The true disciple asks not: “How can others serve me?” but: “How can I serve?”
ST. LUKE THE EVANGELIST
Background
Christian tradition identifies Luke with the companion of St. Paul whom Scripture calls: “Luke the beloved physician.” (Col 4:14). Luke is traditionally understood to be the author both of the Gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.
Together, these form a two-volume account: Jesus begins the work of salvation in the Gospel; the risen Christ continues that mission through the Holy Spirit and the Church in Acts.
The USCCB notes the ancient tradition identifying Luke with a Syrian Christian associated with Antioch and recognizes Luke-Acts as a unified literary work.
Luke’s Audience
Luke addresses his work to Theophilus (Lk 1:3), but clearly intends a wider Christian readership. His audience appears to have included many Gentile Christians.
Luke carefully explains how God’s promises to Israel are fulfilled in Jesus and how salvation then extends to all nations.
Luke’s Portrait of Jesus
Luke especially presents Jesus as: the compassionate Savior, the friend of sinners, the Savior of all humanity, the man of prayer, and the one filled with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus announces His mission at Nazareth: “He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.” (Lk 4:18). That concern runs throughout Luke.
Major Themes in Luke
1. God’s Mercy
Luke’s Gospel is sometimes called the Gospel of Mercy. Only Luke gives us some of Jesus’ most beloved parables, including:
- the Good Samaritan,
- the Lost Coin,
- the Prodigal Son,
- the Rich Man and Lazarus,
- and the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.
Again and again, Luke shows God seeking the lost. Jesus declares: “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” (Lk 19:10)
2. Concern for the Poor and Marginalized
Luke pays special attention to:
- the poor,
- sinners,
- women,
- Samaritans,
- foreigners,
- the sick,
- and those rejected by society.
The Gospel announces that no one is outside the reach of God’s mercy.
3. Prayer
Luke frequently shows Jesus at prayer. Jesus prays at decisive moments of His ministry. Prayer is therefore not merely something Jesus teaches. It is central to His own relationship with the Father.
4. The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit has an especially important role in Luke and Acts. The Spirit acts in the infancy narratives, at Jesus’ baptism, throughout His ministry, and later at Pentecost in the life of the Church.
Pope Francis described Luke-Acts as showing the wonderful relationship between the Word of God and the Holy Spirit in the Church’s mission.
5. Mary
Luke provides the richest Gospel portrait of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He preserves:
- the Annunciation,
- Visitation,
- Magnificat,
- Nativity,
- Presentation,
- and finding of Jesus in the Temple.
Luke shows Mary as a woman of faith, prayer, obedience, contemplation, and discipleship. Pope Benedict XVI particularly noted Luke’s presentation of Mary’s interior faith and prayer.
Luke’s Symbol: The Ox
Luke’s traditional symbol is the ox or calf, an animal associated with sacrifice. Luke begins his Gospel in the Temple with the priest Zechariah offering service before God.
The symbol also points toward Christ’s sacrificial offering for humanity.
Luke’s Message for Us
Luke teaches us to develop a heart of mercy. A Christian cannot love Christ while ignoring the poor, wounded, lonely, excluded, or sinful. Luke challenges us to ask:
Whom do I overlook?
Whom do I judge?
Who needs compassion from me?
The Gospel teaches us that we who have received God’s mercy must become instruments of mercy for others.
ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST
Background
The fourth Gospel is traditionally associated with St. John the Apostle, the son of Zebedee, one of the Twelve and a member of the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples. Christian tradition has often identified him with “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”
John’s Gospel differs greatly in literary style and structure from Matthew, Mark, and Luke, which are called the Synoptic Gospels because they share many common events and patterns.
The USCCB describes John’s Gospel as highly literary and symbolic and as the fruit of profound theological reflection rooted in eyewitness tradition.
John’s Audience
John writes to a Christian community already reflecting deeply on the identity of Jesus. His purpose is stated clearly near the end of the Gospel: “These are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.” (Jn 20:31)
Thus John’s audience includes believers who need their faith deepened and others invited to faith in Christ.
John’s Portrait of Jesus
John presents Jesus especially as:
the eternal Word,
the Son of God,
the revelation of the Father,
the giver of eternal life,
the Light of the World,
the Bread of Life,
the Good Shepherd,
and the Resurrection and the Life.
John begins not at Bethlehem or the Jordan but before creation itself: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (Jn 1:1)
Then comes the mystery of the Incarnation: “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (Jn 1:14)
Major Themes in John
1. The Divinity of Christ
John gives particularly explicit testimony to Christ’s divine identity. The Gospel begins by calling the Word God and reaches a climactic confession when Thomas says to the risen Jesus: “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:28)
2. Signs
John describes Jesus’ miracles as signs. The signs are not simply extraordinary events. They reveal who Jesus is. They include:
- changing water into wine,
- healing the sick,
- feeding the multitude,
- giving sight to the blind,
- and raising Lazarus.
The USCCB introduction notes that the signs are deliberately interpreted so that readers understand their deeper meaning.
3. The “I Am” Sayings
John records several magnificent declarations of Jesus:
“I am the bread of life.”
“I am the light of the world.”
“I am the gate.”
“I am the good shepherd.”
“I am the resurrection and the life.”
“I am the way and the truth and the life.”
“I am the true vine.”
Each reveals something about the mystery of Christ and our relationship with Him.
4. Faith and Eternal Life
For John, faith is much more than accepting information. To believe means entering into a living relationship with Jesus. The purpose of faith is life: “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (Jn 10:10)
5. Love
Love reaches its highest expression in Jesus’ self-giving. At the Last Supper He commands: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” (Jn 13:34). Christian love is therefore measured not merely by emotion but by the Cross.
John’s Symbol: The Eagle
John’s traditional symbol is the eagle. The eagle flies high and sees far. In the same way, John’s Gospel seems to soar into the heights of divine mystery.
Matthew begins with Abraham.
Mark begins with John the Baptist.
Luke begins with Zechariah.
But John takes us beyond history to eternity: “In the beginning was the Word.” (Jn 1:1)
The eagle therefore beautifully represents John’s contemplation of the divinity of Christ.
Four Evangelists — Four Portraits of Christ
The distinctive emphasis of the four Gospels can be summarized simply:
| Evangelist | Particular Emphasis | Portrait of Jesus | Traditional Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew | Fulfillment, teaching, Kingdom, Church | Messiah and Teacher | Human figure / Angel |
| Mark | Action, suffering, discipleship, Cross | Suffering Son of God and Servant | Lion |
| Luke | Mercy, prayer, Holy Spirit, universal salvation | Compassionate Savior | Ox |
| John | Divinity, faith, signs, eternal life, love | Eternal Word and Son of God | Eagle |
The differences enrich rather than weaken the Christian witness.
Together they proclaim:
Jesus is the promised Messiah.
Jesus is the suffering Savior.
Jesus is the merciful Redeemer of all.
Jesus is the eternal Son of God.
The Evangelists and the Word of God
The Syro-Malabar liturgy for the Feast of the Evangelists fittingly includes the Parable of the Sower: “The seed is the word of God.” (Lk 8:11). This provides a beautiful key to the feast.
The Evangelists were sowers of the Word. They received the apostolic witness concerning Christ and, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, handed it on to the Church. The seed they sowed almost two thousand years ago continues to bear fruit across the world.
Every time the Gospel is proclaimed in the liturgy, preached in a homily, taught to a child, studied in a Bible class, shared with another person, or lived through Christian witness, their mission continues.
From Evangelists to Evangelization
The feast is not meant merely to honor four great figures of the past. It reminds us that every baptized Christian is called to participate in evangelization. We may never write a Gospel, but our lives can become a kind of “living Gospel.” People should be able to encounter something of Christ through:
- our words,
- our honesty,
- our forgiveness,
- our compassion,
- our family life,
- our care for the poor,
- our courage in suffering,
- our participation in the Eucharist,
- and our willingness to speak about our faith.
The Evangelists wrote the Gospel with ink. Christians today must also proclaim it through their lives.
What the Evangelists Teach Us
Matthew tells us: Follow Christ and build your life upon His teaching. Faith must become obedience. Knowing Scripture is not enough; we must live it.
Mark tells us: Take up your cross and follow Jesus. Discipleship requires courage, sacrifice, service, and perseverance.
Luke tells us: Become merciful as God is merciful. Look especially for the poor, wounded, forgotten, sinful, and excluded.
John tells us: Believe in Jesus and live in communion with Him. Christianity is ultimately a relationship with the living Son of God.
Four Messages on one Christian Life taken together, the Evangelists give us a beautiful program for Christian life:
Matthew: Learn from Jesus.
Mark: Follow Jesus.
Luke: Imitate the mercy of Jesus.
John: Remain in Jesus.
Or we might express it another way:
Know Christ.
Follow Christ.
Love like Christ.
Live in Christ.
Practical Applications
The Feast of the Evangelists invites us to renew our relationship with Sacred Scripture.
Read the Gospel every day. Even a few verses daily can gradually transform our minds and hearts. Listen attentively when the Gospel is proclaimed. At the Holy Qurbana or Mass, Christ Himself speaks to His people through the Gospel.
Study all four Gospels. Do not limit yourself to favorite passages. Each Evangelist reveals a different dimension of Christ.
Allow the Word to challenge you. The Gospel is not merely meant to comfort us. Sometimes it must correct us and call us to conversion.
Conclusion
The Feast of the Holy Evangelists is more than a commemoration of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It is a celebration of the Gospel itself—the Good News that God has come among us in Jesus Christ.
The Syro-Malabar Church fittingly celebrates the Evangelists during the Season of Denha, the season of manifestation, because these inspired witnesses continue to manifest Christ to the world through the written Word.
Through Matthew we meet Christ the Messiah and Teacher.
Through Mark we meet Christ the suffering Son of God and Servant.
Through Luke we meet Christ the merciful Savior of all humanity.
Through John we contemplate Christ the eternal Word, the Son of God who gives eternal life.
