In today’s gospel, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem where he will undergo his passion. As he sends his disciples ahead of him, he warns them that they may have a few rough spots along the way, but not to become discouraged (I wonder if Jesus really wanted to tell them, “no matter how difficult you have it, my path is going to be a lot harder than yours!”) 
   As Jesus sends us out on our missions to do his work, the message is the same. Sometimes all will go well, sometimes not so well. Through it all, we will always have the graces to do what is asked of us. As St. Teresa of Calcutta told her sisters, “We are not called to be successful. We are called to be faithful.”