Late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert appeared on Oprah Winfrey's "SuperSoul Conversations" program recently to discuss American politics, but instead he ended up testifying and sharing the Bible verse that changed his life.
During the discussion, Winfrey asked Colbert why he is hopeful about the direction the country was moving in despite the divisions caused by the current U.S. political climate.
In response, Colbert pointed to Matthew 6:27, which states, "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"
The talk show host recounted the time when he saw someone giving away copies of the Gideon Bible in Chicago. He said that when he opened up the book, the verse that immediately caught his attention was Matthew 6:27.
"It changed my life. I had lost my faith, I was so racked with anxiety. It was the first time I had read the Bible and I understood the phrase, 'It spoke to me.' The words of Christ are that for me. The words of Christ just speak off the page. There's no effort for me to read them," he said.
Colbert, a practicing Roman Catholic, has openly spoken about his faith numerous times in his career.
In 2012, the comedian took part in an event titled "The Cardinal and Colbert: Humor, Joy, and the Spiritual Life" with Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York. At the event, Colbert and Dolan talked about how a person can be a devout Christian and be funny at the same time.
Colbert expressed his belief that humor is a sign of joy and a remedy against fear.
"Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God, and that's how I can mix faith with what I do for a living," he said.
The comedian also recalled the time when he was ridiculed for his faith while filming on an Ash Wednesday. When he requested to leave so he could attend mass, the director reportedly laughed at him thinking that it was a joke. Colbert said that he questioned the director why he thought that was funny to remind young people in the audience to defend their faith.
Colbert has also previously stated that he does not regret any of his past jokes about religion since he only made jokes about "the use of religion," or "Christ as cudgel." He stressed that he would never make fun of the Seven Sacraments or put the Crucifix onscreen.
