Speaking publicly and comfortably about your faith can be challenging. If you are like me, there is always the fear of what others might think. How will I be perceived if I explicitly speak about Jesus at work or in a casual environment? This summer, I have been encouraged to reconsider being more vocal about my faith from a seemingly unlikely person: Aaron Judge.

He is arguably the best player in baseball, and as he continues his phenomenal career, he has remained true to his roots and his values. Judge continues to be vocal in public about his Christian faith. There is nothing new about professional athletes referencing Jesus or thanking God after a victory. However, there is a level of comfort when Aaron Judge does so that I find particularly interesting and inspiring.

The July All-Star weekend provided him with a platform not only to showcase his skills, but also to speak about his relationship with God. There were two ways Judge was public about his faith that summarize the genuineness of the man behind the pinstripes, and both served as reminders to me to implement Jesus into every aspect of my life.

Conversations that bear witness

In a large media interview leading up to the All-Star Game, Judge was asked about his tendency to be outspoken about his faith. The interviewer asked how he would respond to the claim that being famous and having money can satisfy you in life.

Judge responded, “Our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. He’s given me this platform, this ability. The fame, getting the chance to do this is great and all, but it’s not fulfilling as much as the relationship I have with Him.” His advice to people who are looking for more was, “build a relationship with him and that’ll solve all your problems.”

When he delivered his response, Judge spoke to the reporters with a calm smile and a warm look in his eyes. He didn’t appear to be seeking attention, nor was he attempting to make anyone comfortable with religion. Judge was simply himself. He was at work, and when asked about his values, he took the opportunity to discuss his relationship with Jesus as the most important aspect of his life.

The fact that the interviewer knew Judge’s strong faith means that he is becoming more well-known as a believer and not just a baseball player. This has pushed me to ask myself: do other people know that I love Jesus above everything else? The only way they will know that to be the case is if I cling to daily prayer more fervently and speak about Christ more frequently. Since his comments, God is working through Judge’s faith to push me to pray for the grace of courage and to speak more definitively about my faith.

Tangible signs of faith

In a social media post on the day before the All-Star Game, the Yankees also posted a picture that clearly showed a Bible verse on the baseball bat Judge would use for the game. He chose, “For we live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

He noted that it is one of his favorite verses in all of Scripture: “[I] try to live my life by it, and always trust the Man above and what He’s got in store for us. We never know what’s around the corner, but if we have faith in Him, He will lead us in the right direction.”

Judge does not claim to be a saint but his words about radical trust in the Father are grounded in centuries of spiritual writers and saints. Their chorus of abandoning one’s heart to the care of God is due to the fact that trust is difficult. Trust is what I know I most need to grow in as a disciple. Whether it is the health challenges of some of my family members or being able to provide for my children, Judge’s words have reminded me to live by heavenly principles and not the sight of this world.

Aaron Judge’s unapologetic approach to speaking about his Christian faith has also challenged me to think about how I speak about my own Catholic faith. Since I am on summer break as a teacher, it has pushed me to pray and reflect on how I can be more vocal about my relationship with Christ to my students and colleagues. While this is easier to do at a Catholic school than it is on the baseball field, it can become something that fades to the background too easily. Judge’s words have forced me to learn from him and grow in my willingness to inject Jesus into all aspects of my job this upcoming school year. Whether that is a more pronounced focus on prayer before class or a willingness to speak to more faculty members about my personal relationship with Jesus, I know I can infuse Christ more into my work.

As the baseball season continues, I know I’ll be taking the advice of Aaron Judge. Not because he can hit a baseball far nor because he is a mega-millionaire – but simply because Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). That is my favorite Bible verse; now I know I need to share it more.

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Thomas Griffin is the chair of the religion department at a Catholic high school on Long Island, where he lives with his wife and three children. He is the author of “Let Us Begin: Saint Francis’s Way of Becoming like Christ and Renewing the World”. Thomas is the founder and editor-in-chief of the Empty Tomb Project: The Magazine.