By Ekou Richard
Rev. Fr. Ajoket: “Humility Makes Us Real, Pride Destroys
Rev. Fr. Marcel Ajoket, Parish Priest of the Most Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Parish, Dakabela and Director of Communications for Soroti Catholic Diocese, has urged Christians to embrace humility as the foundation of Christian living and a pathway to personal growth.
Preaching during Sunday Mass, Fr. Ajoket emphasized that humility is not weakness but strength, power, and the key to genuine relationships with God and others.
He noted that while every human being naturally desires recognition and respect, pride often distorts this desire and leads to destruction. “Do not recognize your own self but let others recognize you. Be humble and avoid pride because pride can make you embarrassed one day,” he cautioned.
The priest explained that humility means understanding oneself and appreciating those around us. Being humble, he said, is acknowledging one’s strengths and weaknesses without comparison or envy. “Humility is knowing the truth, accepting the truth and living in the truth,” he added, echoing St. Augustine.
According to Fr. Ajoket, humility brings freedom—freedom from unhealthy competition, envy, and false appearances. He urged Christians to stop comparing their lives with others, warning that living beyond one’s means or pretending to be like others can lead to sin.
“Stop comparing your lives to others. Accept your levels and live as the person you are. Struggling to reach levels you cannot afford will lead you into bad actions. You can even end up committing crimes such as killing, just to be like others. That is not what God wants,” he warned.
Fr. Ajoket stressed that humility opens the door to genuine recognition, respect, and lasting relationships. “Humility leads to genuine recognition, respect, and a deep sense of unity. Pride, on the other hand, destroys relationships and creates division,” he explained.
He reminded believers that humility is also the gateway to eternal life. “Even if God has blessed you with wealth, success, or talents, please be humble. Share with those who do not have, because pride leads only to embarrassment. It is humility that brings blessings and favor before God,” he said.
Turning to leaders, Fr. Ajoket highlighted humility as the heart of true leadership. He urged leaders to remain close to the people they serve, leading with compassion and truth. “As a leader, humility allows you to live with people, understand them and know how to lead them. Leadership without humility becomes self-serving and destructive,” he advised.
Concluding his homily, Fr. Ajoket left the faithful with a memorable reflection: “Pride makes us artificial, but humility makes us real.” He explained that pride creates a false image meant to impress, while humility reflects authenticity, sincerity, and the truth of who we are before God.
The message struck deeply with the congregation, who reflected on its practical lessons for family life, community relationships, and everyday living. Fr. Ajoket’s teaching served as a reminder that humility is not only a Christian virtue but also a human necessity for peace, harmony, and growth
