--- title: Daily Gospel Reflection for May 11, 2018 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/daily-gospel/2018/05/11/daily-gospel-reflection-may-11-2018/#) # Daily Gospel Reflection for May 11, 2018 May 11, 2018 4:01:12 AM  |  by [Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/author/gospel-reflections-team) Receive Daily Gospel Reflections in your inbox ***Today's Gospel: [John 16:20-23](http://usccb.org/bible/readings/051118.cfm)*** Grief. We all experience profound and unrelenting mental suffering or distress sometime in our life. It may come as a result of a death, a broken relationship, or disheartening news. Everyone experiences the human condition of sorrow in a unique way. I remember the night I lay curled up in a fetal position and wept from dusk until dawn. Around me, the rest of the world seemed to sleep, but slumber eluded me. I felt alone in the silence as the knowledge of my grandson’s death buried me under the avalanche of heavy anguish. Each time a new image of my son and his wife as they dealt with Jack’s death marched through my thoughts, a new wave of agony engulfed me. It came at intervals. I had a respite of calmness, then acute pain, followed by quiet sobs until the heartache lessened. But unlike the pains of childbirth, new life didn’t await me. Instead, I faced a visitation and a funeral. I had the choice to feel defeated or hang on to the promise Jesus made to us. “So, you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.” John 16:22. Faith had taught me that this earth is not our home. That one day Jesus waits for us in heaven. Jack, five months and twenty-seven days old, had gone home. Images of this sweet baby in the arms of Jesus made it bearable. One member of our family had achieved the goal of life – eternal happiness. For Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” With this promise, I faced the day. The joy would come. ### Ponder: Where do I turn when despair and grief overcome me? What gives me comfort during the difficult moments of life? ### Pray: Lord, as we face the trials of day-to-day life, help me focus on the promise of eternal life. Send me the grace to direct my thoughts to my final destination - life with You in heaven. Amen. --- *Copyright 2018 Virginia Pillars* Virginia Pillars, author of the award-winning memoir, Broken Brain, Fortified Faith: Lessons of Hope Through a Child’s Mental Illness, writes and speaks about the effects of mental illness on families. She contributed to Grief Diaries Poetry, Prose & More and Surviving Suicide. Virginia volunteers for the National Alliance on Mental Illness as an educator/support group leader. She blogs at [virginiapillars.com](https://virginiapillars.wordpress.com/). **Receive CatholicMom.com newsletters in your inbox, including the Daily Gospel Reflection each morning!** * indicates required Email Address * First Name * Last Name * **Interests ** Daily Digest Daily Gospel Reflections Sunday Brunch Specials Catholic Mom.com Book Club   [![Gospel Reflections 800x800 gold outline](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-400x400.png)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline.png) ### 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%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2018%2F05%2F11%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-may-11-2018%2F%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%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2018%2F05%2F11%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-may-11-2018%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2018%2F05%2F11%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-may-11-2018%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Gospel%20Reflection%20for%20May%2011%2C%202018) [![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%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2018%2F05%2F11%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-may-11-2018%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2018%2F05%2F11%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-may-11-2018%2F%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/daily-gospel/author/gospel-reflections-team) 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 July 21, 2018 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2018/07/21/daily-gospel-reflection-4/) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for February 26, 2018 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2018/02/26/daily-gospel-reflection-february-26-2018/) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for February 25, 2020 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2020/02/25/daily-gospel-reflection-for-february-25-2020/) ## 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! 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