The Kitchen Sink
An occasional piece of paper
March 21, 2010
Vol. 13 no. 12
I have a friend who literally believes that faith smells. Most of the time it smells nicely, to be sure, a sweet fragrance of perfume, which is how it fits into today’s Gospel episode of Mary anointing Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume.
Our Western society turns up its nose at most smells today. We are meticulous regarding bodily cleanliness and allow only a few chosen odors to adorn our physical beings. It is rare anymore that you can say you recognize how a particular person smells - except in a negative way! We prefer that most people don’t smell at all, and there are many churches and public gathering places that have strongly suggested people not wear perfume because of the allergies of others.
It was different. Your dog knows how you smell differently than other human beings and in the first millennium you would recognize another person by their odiferous emanations. Susan Harvey, in her book, Scenting Salvation: Ancient Christianity and the Olfactory Imagination, notes that the world then was full of smells and when Christianity started to really grow in the fourth century smell was not ignored. Incense, scented holy oils, and perfumes became integral parts of worship. Not only was the smell of incense supposed to rise to the heavens and delight the nose of God, but such fragrances express to us what it smells like up there.
This famous story has several versions, and John’s reports that it was Mary, sister of Martha, who broke out the expensive ointment. Social activists have railed ever since at her action, as Judas did first. Early Christians took in deep breaths wondering what does smell mean for faith, for every smell says something to our brain and our heart.
Preached by Robert Kitchen
Knox-Metropolitan United Church
Regina, Saskatchewan