Did you know that your nose is capable of detecting and identifying 10,000 different scents? At least it was when you were born. Most peoples’ noses go downhill from there. And did you know that there’s a direct connection between nose and brain. Smell bypasses the conscious brain and appeals directly to the more primitive limbic system. The sense of smell is hard wired to our brain and to our emotions. That’s why the sense of smell is such a trigger for memory.

Are there some smells that trigger your memories? We need a scratch ‘n sniff sermon tonight. The smell of fresh baked bread makes me think of my Grandma’s cousin Lionne, who taught me – or tried to teach me – how to make bread. It smells like.... abundance. Vicks Vapor Rub. Got any memories associated with that? When I was little, my mom used to put it on my chest when I had a cold, if she could get me to hold still for it. Otherwise, she’d put it in the vaporizer so that I’d breathe it in. That kind of smells like comfort to me. How about chalk? That takes me back to 2nd grade, when Mrs. Bowe would let the person who got their assignment done first go outside and beat the erasers while everybody else worked at their desk. Vickie Whats-her-face always got to dust the erasers. Chalk smells like jealousy to me. The smell of popcorn takes me to the movies. The smell of coconut oil takes me to the beach. The smell of baby powder takes me to… Let’s not go there. And is it really true, as Shakespeare said, that "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet"? What are some of the most powerful sweet smells?

To Jesus it smelled like love... and death. The disciples were a little taken aback by Mary’s gesture. First they notice the odor... this cloying, sweet scent hanging in the air. Where’s it coming from? Then they look over and see Mary, a woman, down on her knees before Jesus. He’s reclining on a couch (as they do at banquets in those days), and she’s holding one of his feet in her hands: and she’s rubbing it all over, massaging his toes, performing this act of physical adoration slowly and with great affection. THAT’s where the smell’s coming from. This woman, who’s also crying and wiping Jesus’ feet with her hair, has poured out a huge quantity of very expensive perfume: and she’s rubbing it into his feet. The sheer sensuality of the act seems scandalous to the disciples. What is he thinking, letting her carry on like that? This is really pushing the envelope of propriety.

In that culture, unrelated men and women seldom interacted in any but the most formal ways: yet Mary’s taken down her hair like some lady of the evening, and is rubbing Jesus feet with it! What could Jesus possibly be thinking, in letting this sordid little drama play out? Why, it’s so... so unspiritual!

Or is it? Jesus said,"Leave her alone. She’s preparing my body for my burial." He knew that the end was near. Nobody else wanted to face that as clearly as Jesus did.

To Judas it seems to have smelled like money. It smelled like waste. Smelling Judas through John’s Gospel one gets an air of greed. Judas complains that the perfume could have been sold and the money could have been given to the poor. John’s quick to point out that "He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it." Quite an indictment - to be stealing from God. The one entrusted with the money was stealing the money. This was the same guy who sold Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver. In other words, Judas sold-out Jesus for a tenth the cost of the perfume lovingly poured on his feet. Could it be when all we can smell is money, and we think it’s OUR money, we’re stealing from God?

Now, to Mary it smelled like thanksgiving. Here’s a woman who, in the midst of plots by the authorities and empty promises by the disciples, threw caution to the wind, emptied her heart and emptied her wallet, broke the alabaster jar containing the perfume and allowed herself to become a fool for love. This incident takes place just after Jesus has raised Lazarus from death: so maybe the profuse tears are tears of gratitude. Maybe she was expressing gratitude through her action of giving this valuable treasure. Her deep love for her teacher spilled out like the nard itself, charging the atmosphere of the entire household.

Detail from Mary Magdalen, by the fabulous Chinese Christian Artist, He Qi

Here’s a woman who knew that the right moment for doing certain things can pass quickly. Here was her beloved, her teacher, her messiah, right in front of her, in the flesh. She wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to show her thanksgiving and love.

Incarnations are fleeting. All flesh is grass. But even in pain, the spirit can move us to extravagant laughter and love, dancing and joy, if we acknowledge the giver of all good gifts. See, giving to others springs forth from recognizing God as the ultimate giver and worshiping God in thankful response to that. The giving is a response to the THANKSGIVING for the living love Jesus showed her. And the house was filled with the eternal fragrance of her thanksgiving.

Now, I’m tempted like Judas, to focus on poorness, and launch myself into a sermon on giving right about now. It just seems like a natural – you know, giving as an act of gratitude, as an act of devotion, as thanksgiving. I mean, can I pour it all out, in the spirit of Mary, for just a minute? Christos is getting by. We pay the rent; we pay a 1/4 time pastor. But from time to time, even that’s a struggle. And the money that we don’t have, is the money that would grow new ministries, that would make possible more outreach into our community and beyond, vibrant worship opportunities, our own space, that kind of thing.

I’ve heard it said that the two biggest headaches for the a pastor are related to raising money and staffing issues. Even Jesus had money problems and staff problems. We see the example of both in the text today. His treasurer was stealing and was going to get him crucified. Well, I’m pleased to report that Christos, for the moment, really has no pressing staffing issues. And I have to tell you that the real issue of concern for this Pastor, charged with leading this flock — is how do I help keep this church focused on "thankful living and thankful giving"?

Thankful living and thankful giving go hand in hand, and when a growing majority of this church lives this way it thrives in all times, especially in the bad times. Times were bad for Mary and Martha. The Jewish people were marginalized. Their land was occupied by the Romans. Jesus was facing impending death. So Mary gave all she had because she was so thankful for what Jesus had done for her.

And after that?.... The early church was persecuted. Christians were fed to the lions. They couldn’t worship in public for fear of being captured and executed. Times were worse than bad. And the church was growing so fast that it took over the entire Roman Empire in less than 300 years. Why? Because the early Christians knew how to pour themselves out loving God and loving their neighbor. They knew that life was for living and for sharing. They knew that life was for giving. Living and giving as a grateful response to God. Living and giving to help others. Living and giving gave meaning to their lives. Living and giving so that the whole world is filled with the fragrance of God’s abundance.

That’s just a couple of thoughts on living and giving. It’s not my main point. My main point is... the main thing. Doing what Mary did, and focusing on the main thing.

A few years ago, there was a movement in the United Methodist church in the States; I observed it when I was going to a Methodist seminary. I learned some useful things there, and this was one of them.

A local bishop came and spoke, and he said the problem is that we’ve been focusing on problems. If we don't have money we focus on stewardship. If we don't have enough people, we focus on membership drives. He said we needed a new paradigm, and the new paradigm is to make sure that the main thing is the main thing. The main thing for the church is nurturing spiritual growth. Not meetings, not money, not membership, not even (I hate to say this) doing justice. If we take care of the main thing, feeding people spiritually, then they will be able to take care of everything else.

According to this model, the flow is circular. People come into the church where they ought to be fed and nurtured spiritually, through prayer, and Bible study and community; and then they go out into the world to do their ministry in the family and work place. Then they come back to church bringing others with them and the cycle starts again. That’s Jesus thinking. That’s the model he used with his disciples.

I think that’s right. I think sometimes we in the church focus, like Judas, on the wrong things - both in our life together as a community of believers, and in our lives as individuals within the larger world. If we focus on what other people are doing or not doing to make things work the way we think they should work; If we focus on the problems that we have as a church, or the problems that we have as individuals, that won’t fix the problem. It’s just going to irritate us. It’s going to make us resentful. That’s Judas thinking.

Remember what Jesus said in the Sermon On The Mount about anxiety and worry? About being focused on our needs rather than on God: "Don’t worry, saying, What we will we eat? Or What will we drink? Or What will we wear? God knows that you need all these things. But seek first the reign of God and God's righteousness and all these things will be given you as well." That’s Jesus thinking.

It’s a different way of looking at things, isn’t it? Well, what can we do, as individuals and as a church, to focus not on our needs, but on the Divine Giver. First - Recognize our God given strengths and virtues - AND resist complacency. There’s nothing truthful or healthy in thinking that we’re devoid of God’s image. And there’s danger in being satisfied with the degree to which we reflect that image. God can always make us more like Christ than we are right now.

Second - Accept the need to work and struggle spiritually. Our life and redemption are free gifts. But a vital, intimate relationship with God doesn’t come effortlessly. No relationship does. There’s a hymn with a line that I like.... "Let us not grow weary in the work of love." This church community can help us keep on working at it.

Third - Continue in prayer. Open your life to the transforming power of God. Don't forget to listen as well as to talk. In prayer face the reality of who you are and whose you are and learn to ask for to God's purpose for you. Let God show you the direction to go.

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