Commentary on the Gospel of
Understanding the Enemies
Jesus forewarns the disciples that much persecution, including martyrdom, awaits them. But he also gives them an insight: their enemies would do so to them precisely because “they have not known the Father” or the Son. It is this awareness that makes it easy for Jesus to pray, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk. 23:34). Peter refers to such ignorance in his address to his fellow Jews: “And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers” (Acts 3:17). Paul too refers to such ignorance when he writes thus: “None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Cor. 2:8). Once we realize that people hurt us out of ignorance of who God truly is, it is easier for us to forgive and reach out to them and share our Father with them.
