By the time I got to this point, I felt as dry as all the bones Ezekiel saw in the valley. That is a danger for us in the Body of Christ. Becoming dry and lifeless, not because we are not working, but because our work is not as focused on Christ as it might be. God alone is the source of unchangeable power, eternal life, and the breath that is need if we as the Church are to be life-giving. At Baptism, holy oil called chrism is used to trace a cross upon the forehead.
Chrism is olive oil that has been infused with spice or perfume, making the oil fragrant.
Thus, the cross upon the baptized is fragrant. Traditionally, that oil is blessed by the Bishop in Holy Week, and as a part of the ritual, the Bishop blows breath forcefully upon the container of oil. This symbolizes God's breath, ruach, which was breathed on the waters of creation, and into these dry bones. As we continue in our Baptismal life, we as the Church must constantly seek God's breath and strength. In order to carry out God's plan of salvation, we constantly need new life if we are to raise up those cast down, and make old things new again.