--- title: Daily Gospel Reflection for May 8, 2016 - Seventh Sunday of Easter description: Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/05/08/daily-gospel-reflection-for-may-8-2016-seventh-sunday-of-easter#) # Daily Gospel Reflection for May 8, 2016 - Seventh Sunday of Easter May 8, 2016 5:30:56 AM  |  by [Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/gospel) [![Gospel Reflections 800x800 gold outline](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-400x400-772.png?width=400&height=400&name=Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-400x400-772.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-772.png) ***Today's Gospel: [John 17, 20-26](http://usccb.org/bible/readings/050816-seventh-sunday-easter.cfm)*** As I read today’s gospel reading, I recalled the trip Pope Francis took to the United States last year. While the popemobile perused the streets blocked off by all the barricades, the pope’s flock – of which we all are part – for a short time publicly exemplified what Jesus prays in part about in this passage: unity. As Christ prays in today’s gospel, he asks the Father for an important grace: “that they may all be one … that the world may believe that you sent me.” Just how vital we are to Christ’s work - to the salvation of the people in the world that surrounds us – dawned on me while I read today’s gospel. God can use how unified we are as the catalyst for somebody else’s conversion. Which is convicting. When Pope Francis was here, the world watched us – and they saw us rep the Church in all kinds of good ways. But who says that the world has ever stopped watching? Christ desires to draw all people to him, and by together being his hands and feet, we can help him do that. ### Ponder: What can I do more of so that when the world encounters me, it also encounters Christ? ### Pray: Lord, thank you for the confidence that you have in me – for the gift of getting to introduce you to others. Help me to find the words and actions today and every day to present you to the people I meet.   *Copyright 2016 Arleen Spenceley* Arleen Spenceley is the author of the book *Chastity is For Lovers: Single, Happy, and (Still) a Virgin* (Ave Maria Press, 2014). She blogs at [arleenspenceley.com](http://arleenspenceley.com) and tweets @ArleenSpenceley. ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F05%2F08%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-may-8-2016-seventh-sunday-of-easter%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F05%2F08%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-may-8-2016-seventh-sunday-of-easter%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F05%2F08%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-may-8-2016-seventh-sunday-of-easter%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Gospel%20Reflection%20for%20May%208%2C%202016%20-%20Seventh%20Sunday%20of%20Easter) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F05%2F08%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-may-8-2016-seventh-sunday-of-easter%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F05%2F08%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-may-8-2016-seventh-sunday-of-easter%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/CM%20DGR%20Gospel%20Team%20profile.png) ### [Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/gospel) Our Gospel Reflections Team is comprised of more than 100 volunteers. We invite you to join us daily to reflect upon the Liturgy of the Word and thank our volunteers for sharing their gifts. ## Related Blog Articles [ Daily Gospel Reflection for September 30, 2016 - St. Jerome Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/09/30/daily-gospel-reflection-september-30-2016) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for September 21, 2016 - St. Matthew Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/09/21/daily-gospel-reflection-september-21-2016-st-matthew) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for April 11, 2016 - St. Stanislaus Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/04/11/daily-gospel-reflection-for-april-11-2016-st-stanislaus) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.