The lengthy gospel reading for this week extends over nearly all of Jesus’ third mission discourse. In this third section the examples he gives his disciples are less tightly connected, appearing more as a Matthean grouping of known sayings rather than as a true discourse. The specific mission to Israel is no longer the focus of Jesus’ words. Instead, the experience of the disciples while engaged in that mission is explored.

Discipleship and mission are now described in terms of suffering and sacrifice. Loyalty to Jesus, and his message of the kingdom, will put true followers on the same hard path Jesus will tread. Family division, public derision, and finally even the possibility of death, is the predicted future for all those who will join themselves to the Jesus mission.

The first section…