I know that I have not contributed much to my blog over the past several months. I think it a part of a general malaise that has settled over me. Just this past week, there was a psychologist who, noticing a similar malaise exhibited in many people, has called it “languishing.” This languishing is not depression, but a general lack of ambition, a lackluster way of being, that this psychologist says has been brought on by the pandemic. We just don’t feel like doing anything and are compelled to do something only by necessity. In Minnesota, it is somewhat akin to what we might label as “Cabin Fever” which generally sets in during the interminably long month of February (Admittedly, February is the shortest month, but in Winter seems the longest of all months.). What does this general languishing have to do with Celtic Knots, much less the readings of this past weekend?
The unique art of the Celtic Knot is that a Celtic Knot, in whatever form it takes, is one endless line. If you examine the art of the Celtic Knot, it is a line that never has a ending point. It has been used to describe the Christian theology of the Trinity, in which Father, Son, and Spirit are one and the same. It has been used describe love, which never ends. It has been used to describe the relationship between lovers and friends.
The Celtic Knot is a wonderful symbol of what universal humanity is experiencing in this pandemic. The common bond of “languishing” is mutually being experienced by us all, regardless of where we live in the world. The endless line of the Celtic Knot is a great representation of the interconnectedness that exists among all of humanity that transcends the borders of nations, the multiple languages and customs, and the multiple theologies of all humanity. The Celtic Knot is a beautiful symbol of the interdependency of humanity, especially evident now as one nation comes to the aid of other nations (see how other nations are shipping canisters of oxygen, and vaccines to pandemic ridden India). What this pandemic has demonstrated is how that pandemic in one nation effects all nations. All nations, cultures, languages, ideologies are all a part of the endless line of the Celtic Knot.
I wonder if the Celtic Knot had been known in the Palestinian Judaism of Jesus, whether Jesus would have used the Celtic Knot rather than that of the Vine and the branches. What stood out for me in the Gospel from this weekend is how the lives of all humanity are interconnected through Jesus to the life that exists to the intimate relationship of Trinitarian love. If we are not a part of that vine of life, or, to use the Celtic Knot, part of the unending line of life that is God, we are lifeless. We do not exist. What all three readings from this weekend make very clear (Sadly, the Gospel does not include the fullness context of Chapter 15 from John), is to be part of this living vine, to be part of this living and endless line, is the living out of Jesus’ Great Commandment of love. We MUST love one another as Jesus loved us. We MUST love others unconditionally as Jesus unconditionally loved us. This is what is required of us to be part of the living vine, the endless line of love.
Remarkably, this unconditional commandment to love one another is expressed in the majority of human religions throughout the world. Whether one is Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or some other religion, the commandment to love is paramount in all these religions. Like the endless line of the Celtic Knot, this commandment to love as God loves, is that which leads us to life in God.
As Jesus concludes (15:9-10), If we wish to remain in his love, we must love as he loves. When we do this we will find joy and our joy will be complete.
