Daniel Berrigan, Jesuit priest, poet, prophet, died 5 yrs ago, 4/30 2016. He was one of those great saints who come along to show a new way of being a follower of Jesus—in his case, as a link in the chain of blessed Peacemakers who acted as if the Sermon on the Mt. were true.
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His famous words on behalf of the Catonsville 9: “Our apologies, good friends, for the fracture of good order, the burning of paper instead of children, the angering of the orderlies in the front parlor of the charnel house. We could not, so help us God, do otherwise.”
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But he showed that there is more to being a peacemaker than just opposing war. In his ministry to the dying (cancer and AIDS), in his eye for beauty, his capacity for friendship, he resisted the power of death and affirmed life in every way.
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He showed the spiritual practices and virtues needed to sustain such a life: balance, modesty, a detachment from results, a sense of humor, a capacity to mourn, rejoice, go give vent when necessary to holy anger, and above all to build community. Last of all, he was my friend.
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Question about 'theology grammar' -- I raise this not to discuss grammar, really, but because the point might interest you. I'm thinking that you could say "as if the Sermon on the Mount is true." My understanding is that "were" is required only if the condition posited 1/2
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“I have always made it clear that I am against everything from war to abortion to euthanasia. I have avoided being a single-issue person.”
Photo: October 27, 1991, Daniel Berrigan sits in to protest Planned Parenthood abortions, soon to be arrested for doing so.
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"What have you read lately that was interesting?" Dan asked when I spotted him in a crowd crossing Broadway; his "The Dark Night of Resistance" was the first of three titles I cited.