Chosen star Jonathan Roumie tells college graduates to surrender their lives to God

The Catholic University of America’s recent graduates were lucky to have Jesus as their commencement speaker – or at least the actor who plays him.

The Chosen star Jonathan Roumie gave a heartfelt address on Sunday, emphasizing the importance of prayer and surrender.

“The first and most radical thing I’ve learned in my time playing Jesus is this: you don’t need to play Jesus for the world, in order to be Jesus to the world,” Roumie began.  

“I’ve realized that just because I play Jesus on a TV show doesn’t mean I can or I should stop being Christ to everyone I know when the cameras turn off. And neither should you.  

“Just because you’re not an actor playing Jesus or you’re not a priest or a nun doesn’t mean you’re not meant to represent Him at all times, wherever you go.” 

The actor, who also received an honorary doctoral degree from the university, told the graduates to prioritize prayer as they enter a chaotic culture.  

“The era we’re living in demands a revolution of deep prayer, one of silence and solitude amidst the din of the world in order to cultivate a sense of peace and harmony within,” Roumie advised. “When you commit to serving God first – not yourselves first but God first – that’s when your true success will begin.”  

He concluded with a brief synopsis of his own testimony – how God took him from being a broke, unknown actor to being the star of a major TV series and representative of the Christian faith worldwide.  

“I would not be standing with you here today if God had not brought me to my knees in utter desperation to surrender my entire life – and more specifically my career – over to Him,” Roumie explained. 

He recalled how six years ago to the day, he was at rock bottom, with just “20 bucks in my pocket, negative 80 dollars in my checking account, weeks without any of the numerous jobs that I was trying to hold down to make ends meet, drowning in thousands of dollars of debt, enough food to last one day, [and] zero opportunities. 

“I dropped to my knees, and I poured myself out to the Lord and surrendered everything to Him, saying, ‘I can’t do this without you. So, whatever You will for me, I will accept it, even if it means quitting acting or leaving the arts. Whatever it is, I surrender.’  

“And for the first time, I actually meant it.”  

Now, he’s urging young people to do the same. 

“Surrender. You’re not in charge. God is,” Roumie concluded. “Look at what He’s done for me in six years. It’s insane. Imagine what He could do for you if you invite Him in to that level of intimacy and surrender in your lives.”