Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, for you will be given at that moment what to say. The evangelist Matthew presents to us in our Gospel reading today what perhaps was an experience of his Church community. The members of this community were seemingly receiving their fair share of hardships. From the passage, it is clear that not only were they facing persecution by the authorities as were all the Christian communities at that time, but it seems they were also having to deal with rejection by their family members and friends on account of being followers of Jesus. And so in an effort to encourage and give them support, Matthew reminds them of the words the Lord had said while he was still with them.
Jesus knew that it would take some time before the new way he had founded gets to be fully accepted. He was also aware that it would take the sacrifice of men and women such as members of this Matthean community if the new way was to spread and take root. And even though this would seem an uphill task, these courageous men and women were never to get discouraged for they shall be setting upon a path already trodden by Jesus. As someone with enough experience, Jesus knew how treacherous and unforgiving that journey can get. He was aware, too, of the help they would need if their endeavors were to be successful. Those who were committing to follow in the footsteps of Jesus were not to totally rely on their own strength or wisdom. The Holy Spirit whom Jesus had promised his followers was meant to be their helper. It was by relying on the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit that the members of the Christian communities would be able to remain faithful to their commitment even in the face of persecutions.  
Two millennia later, these words of Jesus still hold true for us. Many are the times when we become afraid of commitments and new missionary ventures because of our fear of the unknown. We tend to do that because as soon as we receive the commission from Jesus, we make the mission our own. We forget that the Mission is Jesus' and that we are only his agents. Jesus is reassuring us today that he is the owner of the mission, and that he himself will take care of everything. Ours is to heed the call, and set out for the journey, the mission.