Christ Calling the Apostles Peter and Andrew
Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1310
My dear friends,
In reflecting on Mark 1:14-20, we can draw upon the profound insights of both Christian and Buddhist teachings to illuminate the timeless spiritual truths embedded in this passage.
proclaiming the good news of God,
and saying, "The time is fulfilled,
and the kingdom of God has come near;
repent, and believe in the good news."
- Mark 1:14-15
Jesus' declaration, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news," resonates deeply with the contemporary understanding that spiritual enlightenment and transformation are immediately accessible. In the Christian tradition, the "kingdom of God" signifies a reality where God's presence and will are fully realized – a reality characterized by love, justice, and peace. This kingdom, though often thought of as a future hope, is also a present reality, emerging wherever the values of the Gospel are lived out.
Similarly, in Buddhist thought, particularly in the Mahayana tradition, the idea that "samsara is nirvana" suggests that enlightenment and liberation are not distant or separate from our everyday experiences but are intimately present in the here and now. This concept parallels the Christian understanding of the kingdom of God being at hand. Both perspectives invite us to a radical shift in consciousness: to see the sacred in the ordinary, to find spiritual depth in everyday life, and to understand that the transformation we seek is as near as our next breath.
The calling of the first disciples by Jesus in this passage further illustrates this point: Simon, Andrew, James, and John are called from their ordinary lives as fishermen to a new way of being and seeing. They are invited to follow Jesus and to become "fishers of men," signifying a profound reorientation of their lives towards spiritual awakening and service to others. This mirrors the Buddha’s calling of his first disciples, who were invited to a path of wisdom, ethical living, and compassion.
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea -- for they were fishermen.
And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people."
And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John,
who were in their boat mending the nets.
Immediately he called them;
and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
- Mark 1:16-20
For us today, this passage speaks to the immediacy and accessibility of spiritual transformation. In an age where Christian and Buddhist teachings are more accessible than ever, we are reminded that the journey towards spiritual depth, compassion, and awakening is not a distant ideal but a present possibility. The call to follow a path of spiritual depth and ethical living is as relevant now as it was in the time of Jesus and the Buddha. It encourages us to embrace a life of service, compassion, and mindfulness, reflecting the values of the "kingdom of God" in our daily actions and interactions.