Bread and Roses

On Tuesday, during Bible Study, I remembered a story about my brother.  When he would go to one of his friend’s houses- a house where the family had a difficult life; the mother would comment that when he was around she smelled roses.  Just to be clear, he was a 13 year old boy, and in my opinion smelled like dirty socks.

On Wednesday, while visiting, a wise 90+ year old commented on the state of the world, wondering what happened to individuals to make them nasty.  What kindness might have been offered them, to melt the nasty? An astute question and thought to ponder.

On Thursday, while out in the church garden whipper snipping, a young woman pulled out her earbuds when she passed to comment: “that smells so nice!” ---referring to the fresh smell of newly cut grass.

Each of these seemingly insignificant snippets, stood out because of the scripture readings being mulled over for this morning:

Elijah awoke to find an angel ordering him to eat a hearth cake – the smell of fire made bread – He ate twice, to be strengthen for his journey.

The Psalmist sings: Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Paul writes to the Ephesians: Christ gave himself for us as an offering to God, a gift of pleasing fragrance.

Jesus teaches: I myself am the living bread come down from heaven.  If anyone eats this bread they shall live forever; the bread I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.

Bread. Fragrance. Kindness. -- collide and dance together, providing a profound focus to centre our mission -as individuals, and as church, in the world. We take a few minutes, now, to ponder the dance.

We begin in Ephesians, where Paul clearly encourages the Ephesians to be a part of God’s mission in the world. One did this by being an imitator of God, following the way of love, as Christ loved them. Specifically, imitating God meant, being kind to one another, tender-hearted, alternately translated compassionate, and forgiving one another.  Paul concludes the thought by commenting that by living in this manner, Christ—Jesus—was an offering; and was a pleasing fragrance to God.

Deductively, then, living in a manner akin to the beginning portion of the reading from Ephesians, produces a foul smell; one not pleasing to God.  Those who sadden or grieve the Holy Spirit; those who are bitter; those who resort to passion and anger, use harsh words, slander others, and show malice (that is the desire and action to hurt others); create a foul smell.  Their actions stink!

Early on, in the Bible, Genesis records a story, that after the flood Noah offered a burnt offering in thanksgiving to God. The smoke from this offering wafted, as incense, to God. The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures.” What is interesting is that God is affected by smell. God of all creation, was moved to mercy by the smell of a simple burnt offering and a thankful heart, promising to never again curse the ground because of humans.  Once again, the foulness of human inclination, set aside, by a turn towards sweet smelling offerings.

There is a tradition within Roman Catholicism called the Odour of Sanctity.   The Odour of Sanctity refers to Saints who were said to smell like roses or other flowers when they died. Their bodies gave off a sweet floral smell.  It is suggested that the Saint’s residual stock of faith and kindness was released from their earthly body at the time of death, and this is what gave the pleasant fragrance.

In a similar way the Talmud suggests that when the Messiah comes, the Messiah will "smell and judge" – The Messiah with spiritual sensitivity – a discerning nose- will determine complex truths about the people and how it is they lived their lives.

Catholic theologian, Sr. Joan Roccasalvo, carries the Odour of Sanctity, to new depths, when she reflects on the intimacy of smell. When you breathe in, you can not un-smell a smell. When you experience God, you can not un-experience God. Saints, who lived their lives practicing kindness (along with other sweet-smelling offerings), are continually breathing in God, breathing out God; and are thus, in an intimate relationship with Christ, becoming more fragrant as the intimacy deepens.  

Her argument continues by noting that the Hebrew scriptures -like Hosea, The Song of Solomon…- speak in images of Israel as the bride and the Lord God as the bridegroom; these passages speak of seduction, betrothal, and covenant-marriage. The prophet Jeremiah specifically says: You have seduced me, O Lord, and I have allowed myself to be seduced; you were too strong for me, and you prevailed. Images drawn in the texts include references to fragrances of oil, perfumes, ripe fruit, burnt offerings, and incense. These smells were seductive, to Israel, to God.  Sr. Joan makes a conclusion, that God seduces via smell – via smell, God draws people in—

Curious in Jesus discourse on I am the bread of life, he says: no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them.

St. Paul extrapolates on this theme in the second letter to the Corinthians.  Paul writes:

We are the aroma of Christ, to God among those being saved.

Could it be that the way we live our lives, allows God to draw in – seduce- those around us into relationship with God?

Could it be that when we stop creating cesspools from the human garbage of anger, unforgiveness, and malice; and turn to ways of kindness, compassion, and forgiveness – being imitators of God… that this fragrant offering seduces others to come to God?

Perhaps, as the sermon has progressed, you have had a waft of the smell of freshly baking bread.

The sense of smell is powerful. Smell triggers vivid memories and emotions. So honoured, in Jewish tradition, are pleasant smells, that an blessing is made to God for them, much like one says grace before a meal. Blessed are you O Lord our God, who creates fragrant wood.  Blessed are you O Lord our God, who creates various kinds of fragrance.  Blessed are you O Lord our God, who brings forth bread from the earth.

The smell of freshly baking bread is intentional. The smell is to mesh with your emotions of what happens in this place.  Today this full-bodied warm smell is paired with Jesus stating: I am the bread of life.  

When bread is baking the smell can not be contained.  As the bread warms and rises, as it cooks and expands, its smell dissipates –seducing—drawing in those around. 

When Ben’s Bakery was in operation, only a few blocks away, there were many mornings we could smell fresh bread at the parsonage. Those were the mornings I wished to eat fresh bread. Who doesn’t get hungry at the smell of baking bread?

Jesus is the bread of life.  We are from the same dough… a little sour… and ready to grow.  As we live life we imitate Christ through practicing kindness, compassion, and forgiveness; this rises our dough.  This has us wafting a smell, like that of freshly baking bread.  In this way we give ourselves away as bread for the hungry.  In this, God seduces those around us --- draws them to Godself---

If anyone eats this bread they shall live forever; the bread Jesus will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.

On Thursday, God seduced, a young woman, in the smell of freshly cut grass, a smile, a sharing of a moment with another human being; a kindness and intimacy exchanged. May we be intimately kind.

On Wednesday, a reminder that there are those who are “nasty.” Sadly, they have not experienced kindness, and so have not had opportunity for God to seduce them. May we be that kindness.

On Tuesday, a reminder, that God, once upon a time, seduced an overwhelmed mother, reminding her that she was not alone; rather, than, dirty socks, she smelled kindness, compassion – she smelled an odour of sanctity; holy roses. May we be the smell of kindness, compassion.