WORDS FROM FATHER YOHANES: We Are The Living Temple of God

By Father Yohanes Akoit

St. John Paul II says, “If the language of Israel is Hebrew, and the language of Islam is Arabic, then the language of Christianity is the body” (TOB 23:4). From a theological point of view, this statement reveals the mystery of the Incarnation. God becoming man. Concretely, we can express it this way: The body, in fact, and only the body, is capable of making visible what is invisible. In other words, the body was created by God to carry and express the invisible reality of divine nature to the world, in order to make known the existence of the living God. Through the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, we are able to experience the divine nature of the Triune God - a God of love who cares for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the outcast, and the dying.

On the other hand, from an anthropological point of view, St. John Paul II’s reflection can be understood as a gateway to hu-man existence. The body is the dwelling place of all human ex-perience; the body, we encounter the meaning of our basic needs - food, shelter, and clothing; Through the body, we experience our human limitations - hunger, tears, sickness, and death; Through the body we become aware of our negative tendencies - lying, disobedience, anger, jealousy, despair, betrayal, and denial; Through our body we are able to reflects our existence in relation to others – procreation, communication, fraternity and reconciliation; And through the body, we recognize our capacity for tran-scendence - love, wisdom, virtue, and knowledge.

The words of St. John Paul II serve as a profound reminder to us all: our bodies are living temples of God. They express His love and become His language to the world. Through our actions and behavior, God's voice resounds and resonates. Our helping hands, encouraging words, sincere love, solidarity, sense of re-sponsibility, and faithfulness become channels of divine commu-nication. By embodying these virtues, our bodies become instru-ments of God's presence in the world. Theologically, the more we strive to live with goodness and virtue, the more clearly we reflect His presence. We become His hands and feet - serving the poor, the hungry, the sick, and the dying. Anthropologically, the body is the medium through which we encounter meaning and the beauty of creation. Each of us carries within our body two sacred responsibilities: one theological, the other anthropological. We are called to live out our humanity while pursuing holiness. Every day presents an opportunity to embody the presence of God. Yet in this sacred task, we often falter and neglecting our calling.

In harmony with the teachings of St. John Paul II, the Gospel of John invites us to reflect on the sacred meaning of the human body. This reflection is not abstract - it is rooted in the dramatic moment when Jesus cleansed the temple and declared, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:13–22). His words reveal that the body is not merely physical, but a living temple where God desires to dwell. When we express love through kindness, faithfulness, and compassion, we allow our body to become a visible sign of God's presence. In this way, our daily actions reflect the divine and make holiness tangible in the world. Building on this, the theological and anthropological per-spective of the body, shows us how the body holds both human limitation and spiritual depth. It is through the body that we suf-fer, feel, love, and grow. Yet we often misuse it or forget its sacred purpose. The Gospel urges us to confront these distortions and renew our lives in God’s image. In doing so, the body be-comes a vessel of grace, beauty, and divine presence.

Father Yohanes Akoit is pastor of St. Julian and St. Anthony Catholic churches in Kentucky.