Rev. Fr. Marcel Ajoket, parish priest of The Most Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, dakabela, called on Christians to prioritize their relationship with Jesus Christ by involving Him in every part of their lives right from the beginning.
He challenged believers to stop the habit of turning to God only when things go wrong, encouraging them instead to call on Jesus at the start of every journey, plan, and decision.
“Too many people only remember Jesus when trouble starts,” Fr. Ajoket said. “They begin their businesses, projects, or family decisions without prayer, without asking for God’s guidance. Then when challenges arise, that’s when they begin to cry and pray. But Jesus is not a last resort, He is the foundation we must start with.”
He explained that the true path to success, peace, and fulfillment lies in walking hand in hand with Jesus not just occasionally but every single day. “Let us be Christians who are consistent in prayer, who consult Jesus not just in times of pain but also in our plans, our work, our goals. If we invite Him in early, we will walk in His light always,” he emphasized.
Using a well known story from the Bible, Fr. Ajoket reminded Christians of the miraculous catch of fish in the Gospel of John. The disciples, after fishing all night and catching nothing, obeyed Jesus’ simple instruction to cast their nets on the right side of the boat and were rewarded with an overflowing catch.
“That miracle didn’t happen because they were skilled fishermen,” he noted. “It happened because they obeyed Jesus’ word. If we trust Him and follow His instructions, He will surprise us with blessings beyond our expectations. It might not always look logical, but obedience brings divine results.”
But Fr. Ajoket’s homily did not end in that, He also took time to caution Christians about the dangers of looking backward of clinging to past mistakes, regrets, and disappointments. According to him, many people spend too much time mourning what they missed or wishing they could undo decisions they made time back.
“There’s a destructive habit in our society,” he said. “People keep crying over lost opportunities. They keep replaying their past failures, blaming themselves for taking a wrong path, instead of looking ahead and trusting God for a fresh start.”
He stressed the importance of forward thinking and spiritual focus, urging believers to allow God to heal their past and guide them into a new future.
Fr. Ajoket cited the example of Simon Peter, one of Jesus’ closest disciples. After Jesus’ crucifixion, Peter became discouraged and attempted to return to his old way of life that is fishing even though Jesus had called him to something greater.
“Peter looked back to what he left behind,” Fr. Ajoket said. “He tried to go back to the comfort zone, forgetting that Jesus had already chosen him for a higher purpose. We must learn from that and not allow the past to steal our future.”
Instead of dwelling on what went wrong, he advised the faithful to pray for God’s direction and strength to move forward. “God knows your past, but He’s more interested in your future,” he assured them. “Stop looking at the doors that closed. Start trusting God to open new ones.”
He concluded his homily by calling on the church to deepen their love for Jesus and commit to a lifestyle of faith, trust, and total surrender to God’s will. “Loving Jesus is not a feeling it’s a choice we make daily. Let your words, your plans, and your actions show that Jesus is truly at the center of your life,” he said.
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