2 Corinthians 2: The Fragrance of Christ

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? - 2  Cor. 2:14-16 NIV

This scripture brings to mind the few Catholic or Orthodox services I have attended, where the Bishop or High Priest processes in swinging the incense over the worshippers, with the other priests, acolytes, or altar boys following behind.  I am especially reminded of the pomp and ceremony that is practiced in some of the churches in the Holy Land such as the Armenian and Greek Orthodox church.  Christ is that High Priest.  He is leading us, his church and his fragrance is being spread over the entire world.  We often don't see ourselves as such.  Instead, we see ourselves as the persecuted ones, those left out of the public arena, the ones being cast aside for a different type of world.  We need to see ourselves as what we truly are.  We are Christ's army.  We are his church.  We are being led in procession.  It is a glorious thing to behold.  Just as I experienced in Jerusalem, it is a procession that stops you in your tracks, that leaves you mesmerized, that makes you forget for a minute all the cares of the world and causes you to concentrate on the worship.  We are the fragrance, the perfume, the incense that is being offered to an increasingly foul smelling world.  We can't forget that.  Our fragrance, the fragrance of the Great High Priest covers the stench of death.