The Parish Priest of The Most Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Parish Dakabela, who also serves as the Diocesan Communications Director, Rev. Fr. Marcel Ajoket, has urged Christians to live lives that reflect purity and holiness, reminding them that their bodies are temples of God and must not be misused for earthly pleasures or selfish gain.
While delivering his homily during the celebration of the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, Fr. Ajoket reflected on the day’s readings, particularly from the book of Ezekiel, where the prophet saw water flowing from the temple toward the Dead Sea, bringing life and purification in the sea.
He used this image to challenge the congregation to become agents of change and purification in the world.
“Be a person who is going to change this world. Be a person who will purify this world,” he said.
“Sometimes it’s us who have spoilt this world because we don’t accept to purify it. Let us change this world, we are the temple of God.”
Fr. Ajoket explained that, just as the water from the temple in Ezekiel’s vision purified the sea, Christians should allow their faith to flow from the church into the world to bring transformation.
“We come to church to be nourished and sent forth. The grace we receive here should flow out to heal our families, our workplaces and our communities,” he said.
He further warned believers against what he termed as “mixing faith,” cautioning that many Christians today compromise their beliefs by blending true faith with worldly practices.
“You must not mix faith. Don’t you know that you are the temple of the living God?” he asked.
According to Fr. Ajoket, the Christian body is not just flesh but a sacred dwelling of God’s Spirit.
He decried the modern tendency of people to use their bodies for immoral or selfish purposes, forgetting their divine dignity.
“Do not misuse your body for earthly bad things because you are the temple of God,” he emphasized.
He noted that many people today prioritize wealth, pleasure and popularity at the expense of spiritual integrity.
“Accept your condition, but do not misuse your body, the temple of God for earthly wealth. Don’t misuse the body for self-gain, you are the temple of God,” he reminded.
The priest went on to paint a vivid picture of how God desires to dwell in a clean and holy temple.
“Imagine if one day God wants to rest in you as His temple, and He finds that you have been misusing it, how will it be?” he asked.
Fr. Ajoket’s homily resonated deeply with the faithful, as he encouraged them to take personal responsibility in keeping their spiritual and moral lives pure.
He called upon them to pray constantly for God’s grace to maintain holiness in both body and soul.
“Let us pray that God may help us to keep His temple pure, for when we live uprightly, the world around us changes too,” he said.
He concluded by reminding the faithful that transformation of the world begins with personal conversion.
“If each of us becomes a source of goodness, honesty, and faith, then like the water from the temple, our actions will cleanse and renew the world,” he said.
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