Reflection
June 2020
"Christian Fragrance"
"Christian Fragrance"
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12 v1)
There has been a lot of appreciation voiced concerning the melodious birdsong heard this Spring, to which we have been more receptive, there being less traffic. Similarly those with access to a garden, or those who have admired other people’s gardens while taking their daily walk, have enthused at the vitality of trees coming into fresh green leaf and flowers and blossom suffusing our eyes like paints on an artist’s palette.
We humans are not alone in appreciating and being drawn towards these marvels of God’s creation. Birds and insects are attracted to colour and sound too. In this reflection let’s focus on another sense, that of smell. Smell is one of the most emotive senses we have, instantly transporting us back to childhood memories. I realise this sense as well as that of taste may weaken as we get older. Moreover we have been warned recently that the temporary loss of the sense of smell and taste may be a symptom of covid-19. Nevertheless at this time of year most of us will be aware that if we pass certain flowers a delicate or strong fragrance may waft towards our noses (remember the Bisto advert during which you saw a curved brown aroma spiralling up from the gravy!?)
Of course insects are drawn to the scent of certain flowers such as roses, lavender, thyme and Brunnera (pictured). Bees are busy buzzing from flower to flower enticed by the scent of the nectar and then carrying pollen from one flower to another. Thus the flower is fertilised and fruits and seeds later develop to carry on the life cycle - all part of God’s amazing plan for our world!
I am reminded of Mary’s fragrant offering poured on Jesus’ feet. Judas Iscariot objected and asked “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?” Jesus reprimanded him saying “Leave her alone…. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” (John 12v4-8) Then later, after Jesus’ death the apostle Paul reminds us that Jesus gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5v2). Perhaps next time we smell the fragrance of a flower we might recall Jesus’ sacrifice for us in dying on the cross.
I am amazed at the munificence of God when creating His world! Not only does He provide beauty, music and taste but also fragrances for us to appreciate and be grateful. “Take time to smell the roses” is an old and very true saying. This period of lockdown may seem interminable and for some very tragic but there are positives to grasp and be thankful for.
In the Old Testament, when sin offerings were sacrificed to God, we frequently read that He found their aroma pleasing and acceptable. But nowadays even at this time of lockdown, as we remember Pentecost, it is God’s Holy Spirit within us that means we are a fragrant and acceptable offering to God, as we serve Him and each other.
So as we smell the flowers of Spring and Summer, let us be reminded that our service, faithfully given in Jesus’ name, is also a pleasing aroma to our Lord.
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ…” 2 Corinthians 2:14.
There has been a lot of appreciation voiced concerning the melodious birdsong heard this Spring, to which we have been more receptive, there being less traffic. Similarly those with access to a garden, or those who have admired other people’s gardens while taking their daily walk, have enthused at the vitality of trees coming into fresh green leaf and flowers and blossom suffusing our eyes like paints on an artist’s palette.
We humans are not alone in appreciating and being drawn towards these marvels of God’s creation. Birds and insects are attracted to colour and sound too. In this reflection let’s focus on another sense, that of smell. Smell is one of the most emotive senses we have, instantly transporting us back to childhood memories. I realise this sense as well as that of taste may weaken as we get older. Moreover we have been warned recently that the temporary loss of the sense of smell and taste may be a symptom of covid-19. Nevertheless at this time of year most of us will be aware that if we pass certain flowers a delicate or strong fragrance may waft towards our noses (remember the Bisto advert during which you saw a curved brown aroma spiralling up from the gravy!?)
Of course insects are drawn to the scent of certain flowers such as roses, lavender, thyme and Brunnera (pictured). Bees are busy buzzing from flower to flower enticed by the scent of the nectar and then carrying pollen from one flower to another. Thus the flower is fertilised and fruits and seeds later develop to carry on the life cycle - all part of God’s amazing plan for our world!
I am reminded of Mary’s fragrant offering poured on Jesus’ feet. Judas Iscariot objected and asked “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?” Jesus reprimanded him saying “Leave her alone…. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” (John 12v4-8) Then later, after Jesus’ death the apostle Paul reminds us that Jesus gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5v2). Perhaps next time we smell the fragrance of a flower we might recall Jesus’ sacrifice for us in dying on the cross.
I am amazed at the munificence of God when creating His world! Not only does He provide beauty, music and taste but also fragrances for us to appreciate and be grateful. “Take time to smell the roses” is an old and very true saying. This period of lockdown may seem interminable and for some very tragic but there are positives to grasp and be thankful for.
In the Old Testament, when sin offerings were sacrificed to God, we frequently read that He found their aroma pleasing and acceptable. But nowadays even at this time of lockdown, as we remember Pentecost, it is God’s Holy Spirit within us that means we are a fragrant and acceptable offering to God, as we serve Him and each other.
So as we smell the flowers of Spring and Summer, let us be reminded that our service, faithfully given in Jesus’ name, is also a pleasing aroma to our Lord.
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ…” 2 Corinthians 2:14.
