Placards of Faith

Bearing witness to our faith in our actions

03/10/2024

Jn 3:14-21 Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

If you saw a big placard with the Scripture citation “Jn 3:16” where do you think you would be? Probably not at Mass, but at a major league baseball game or a professional football game. Have you seen people holding up that Bible verse at a sporting event? If you have never looked up Jn 3:16, you will be happy to know it was part of the gospel passage we just heard this morning. That famous verse reads: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.” It is truly a beautiful passage of Scripture, and a gentle invitation to salvation by believing in Jesus.

But as Catholic Christians we know of course that we have to do more than simply believe. In other words, that belief has to be backed up by our behavior. James 2:14 asks: “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” St. James asks a rhetorical question and the obvious answer is “No.” So, I think next time I go to a professional football or baseball game, I will hold up a placard that reads “Jas 2:14”, and impress our Protestant friends because a Catholic can quote Scripture.

Now, even though I do not agree theologically with our Protestant brothers and sisters, I do tip my hat to their evangelistic zeal. That is, I wish I had the courage of many Protestant Christians. Think about it: Protestants will hold up a Bible passage on national television while we Catholics are embarrassed that someone will see us making the Sign of the Cross before we eat at a restaurant. Catholics can learn a lot from Protestants.

One thing I have learned from listening to Protestant preachers while I drive to Winslow on Sunday morning is the notion of a “life verse.” Have you heard of that? Many Protestants diligently and daily read the Bible and when they find a verse that touches them deeply, they commit it to memory. It becomes their guiding star – a spiritual North star – and provides hope, peace, comfort, joy, and even courage to hold up that life verse at a sporting event!

I have personally adopted Romans 5:20 as my life verse which reads: “Where sin abounds, there grace abounds all the more.” I have shared that verse with countless people in counseling, and it always gives them a glimmer of hope and peace. That verse tells me that God’s grace is always bigger than our sins and failings. Before I share some really inspiring examples of life verses, let me tell you a little joke.

In the Catholic Church colors are very symbolic and significant, especially when a pope is being elected. After a pope dies or retires all the cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. Hundreds of thousands of people stand waiting in St. Peter’s Square outside anxious to hear who the next pope will be. Inside in secret, the cardinals vote to determine the next successor of St. Peter.

After they vote they throw their ballots into a special chimney which the people outside can see. If the smoke that comes out of the chimney is black, we do not have a new pope. If the color of the smoke is white, we do have a new pope. If the color of the smoke is green, then Willie Nelson snuck into the conclave. My apologies to Willie Nelson fans.

The reason I share that joke is because when we go home today from Mass, most of us will remember that joke but nothing else from the Scripture readings we heard today. Protestants, on the other hand, learn and memorize Bible verses, like we Catholics remember jokes. And so in a sense, the real joke is on us Catholics. Let me invite you, therefore, to have the same hunger not just for jokes but for Scripture.

Here are some same life verses for you to consider adopting. Jer 15:16 says, “Your words were found and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart.” The gospel of John is packed with potential life verses. John the Baptist says words we all need to repeat in Jn 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Or Jesus’ words about the Eucharist in Jn 6:35, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.”

Or, at the Last Supper, Jesus assures his disciples in Jn 16:33, “In this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” And among the epistles of St. Paul, my favorite is Philippians, where in Phil 4:8, we read: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

My friends, this is a small sampling of the 31,104 verses in the entire Bible. Read the Bible devoutly at home. Listen to the Scriptures proclaimed at Mass. When you hear a particular verse that touches a chord deep inside you, make it your life verse. Commit it to memory and be ready to cite it by chapter and verse. And if you are feeling really courageous, make a big placard with that verse and hold it up at the next professional sporting event you attend. After all, that might be your best chance to get on TV.

Praised be Jesus Christ!