This morning’s reading includes this odd image:
14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.
A king marches through the streets. He’s been victorious, and behind him in tow are all those he has captured in battle. This parade displays his victory and his rule in this place. Watch any movie about ancient kingdoms or empires, and you can likely see this scene.
But these captives don’t appear to walk with hung heads. They cling to no crushed freedoms; they have not suffered loss in the defeat. To be certain, things have been taken from them. Plans have been changed and life has been disrupted. But they know they’ve never been part of something so sweet as this victory walk. Their loss has become their victory, and their new king is the finest master they’ve ever known–even if they needed to be “persuaded” of that by his takeover of their lives.
And now they wish to see their lives carry that message, as a sweet aroma floats through the air.
So today, I hope you smell!
And I hope others smell your scent.
No doubt our lives always smell of something–let today be a day when the fragrance draws “sniffers” to notice the king at the front of our procession.