Our gospel today is part of Jesus' instruction to the disciples as He sends them out on mission. They are not yet fully formed apostles. That will happen only on the day of Pentecost. But now, as part of their formation, they are sent out for a missionary exposure. In the end, they will return to. share their experience with Jesus and to learn its meaning from Him.

What is striking in today's passage is that Jesus tells them how to handle both success and failure. First, he makes clear that His (and their) mission will bring not peace but division. Then, in the final lines, He says: "The one who welcomes you welcomes me." So the mission will bring both division and peaceful unity.

How can we explain these apparently contradictory experiences? The crucial point is that the hearers' reaction all depends on their attitude towards Jesus Christ. Those who welcome Him will also welcome his apostles. But those who cannot accept His person and mission will likewise reject those who speak in His name.

The challenge for us today is the same. We must be prepared to speak the truth in love - and to expect very different reactions, depending on the openness to Jesus of those with whom we interact. We must have the courage to risk professing our faith in a loving way. But then we must leave it to the Lord to judge the reactions of our hearers.