THE SCENT OF GOD’S PRESENCE

Recently, I visited the new Commodity Fragrances store in the SoHo neighborhood in New York City, opened by our dear friends Vicken and Rosette Arslanian. What a beautiful place it is! The design is modern, almost like an art gallery. As you walk in, you can feel the atmosphere shift. Every scent, every detail is designed to lift your senses and make you pause, reflect, and breathe in something refreshing.

As I walked through that boutique, sampling the different fragrances, a saying from one of the Desert Fathers came to mind. He said, “Whoever enters a perfume shop, even if they buy nothing, still leaves with the sweet fragrance.” What a powerful truth! You can step into that store, spend just a few moments there, and even if you walk out empty-handed, the beautiful aroma stays with you.

It’s the same way when you spend time in the presence of God. It’s the same when you surround yourself with people who are full of faith, full of joy, full of peace. You may not even realize it, but you’re picking up their fragrance; you’re leaving with more strength, more courage, more fresh vision for your life!

That’s why Proverbs 13:20 says, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.” Who you spend your time with matters. If you’re hanging around people who are always negative, always complaining, always seeing what’s wrong, you’re going to pick up that fragrance, too. You’ll start noticing more problems than possibilities. You’ll feel heavier, discouraged, and weighed down.

But if you make it a point to walk with the wise, the joyful, the faithful, you’ll start picking up their fragrance! Their hope will get on you. Their joy will fill your spirit. Your faith will get stronger. And you will breathe in the sweet aroma of God’s presence.

Friends, surround yourself with people who carry God’s fragrance. People who walk in peace, who lift you when you’re down, who call out the best in you. And as you do, you’re not just going to feel better, you’re going to become better. And before long, you’ll be the one carrying that fragrance into every room you enter, lifting others up, inspiring them to believe again.

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan
April 30, 2025