Minor Festival -- The Conversion of St. Paul

               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, January 25 we recognize a minor festival, the Festival of the Conversion of St. Paul.

               The Bible records the conversion of St. Paul in Acts 9:1-19.  In describing his own conversion and call to be an apostle, Paul describes himself as “one abnormally born.” (1 Corinthians 15:8) The account of St. Paul’s conversion bears this out.  He who had been a Pharisee, zealous for the Law of Moses and eager to snuff out the Christians, was converted personally by the ascended Jesus Christ who appeared to Paul from heaven.  While our conversions are not as spectacular, they are no less miraculous – as God takes sinners who are by nature opposed to him (Romans 8:7,8) and converts us into people who love him and are eager to do his will (Ephesians 2:8-10).