Department of Church and Society, CSN

At St Michael Chaplaincy, Maitama, Abuja, the Local Ordinary of Abuja Archdiocese, His Grace, Most Rev. Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama warned against the dangers of focusing on external rituals while harboring malice and wickedness in the heart.

The Archbishop emphasized the need for inner purity over mere adherence to religious customs.

Drawing from the day’s gospel reading, Archbishop Kaigama criticized the Scribes and Pharisees for their obsession with ceremonial hand washing while neglecting the more profound aspects of faith—love, compassion, and sincerity.

“It is better to have dirty hands and a clean heart than to have a clean body but a heart filled with envy and wickedness,” he declared, urging the faithful to prioritize inner transformation and true repentance over superficial observance of laws.

Archbishop Kaigama’s message reflects deeply the society where outward appearances often overshadow the state of the heart.

He called on Christians to reject legalism and embrace a faith that transforms character, fosters harmony in homes, and ultimately brings peace to the nation.