On Saturday the Rev. Daniel J. Berrigan passed away at the age of 94. He served as a Jesuit priest for more than 60 years and the author of more than 50 books. Berrigan is best known for his commitment to non-violence and was, in the words of fellow Jesuit James Martin, a “tireless promoter of peace.”
Whether or not you knew of his ministry, I encourage you to reflect on a few of his many powerful quotes:
- “No principle is worth the sacrifice of a single human being.”
- “One is called to live nonviolently, even if the change one works for seems impossible. It may or may not be possible to turn the U.S. around through nonviolent revolution. But one thing favors such an attempt: the total inability of violence to change anything for the better.”
- “A revolution is interesting insofar as it avoids like the plague the plague it promised to heal.”
So What?
The longer I follow the Way of Jesus the more certain I am that it is the path of peace. In honor of Daniel Berrigan I encourage you to choose one of the three quotes above (or any quote attributed to him) and to carry it with you this week. As you do, be sure to consider your own role as a peacemaker and your own understanding of non-violence as they relate to your faith.