Minor Festival -- The Festival of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

            Lutheran worship is liturgical.  While that often refers to an order of worship, it can also refer to the calendar of the Church Year.  The Church Year includes major festivals, such as Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Pentecost, etc...  

            On Sunday, September 21, we will recognize a minor festival, the Festival of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist.

            Matthew, also called Levi (Mark 2:13-17, Luke 5:27-32), was a tax collector before Jesus called him to be a disciple and later appointed him to be an apostle.  We know little of Matthew other than his seedy background (tax collectors were often thieves).  Yet, the Lord, who redeemed this wretched sinner, had a special purpose for him.  As an apostle, Matthew devoted his life to proclaiming the good news of forgiveness through Jesus to others.  He was also inspired by the Holy Spirit to record the words and works of Jesus in the gospel that bears his name.  Even tradition is vague on Matthew’s ministry and death, except that he was martyred in some way.  Just as the Lord redeemed this sinner and called him to service, so the Lord does for us sinners as well.