Daily Gospel Reflection for May 9, 2024

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: John 16:16-20

I reached a tipping point. The last straw.

How could so many life stressors fall upon the people I love the most? One after the other, some at the same time. It didn’t seem possible, and it certainly didn’t seem fair.

“Be still and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:11

Those were the words I heard in response to my tears. And they reminded me that God’s ways are not my ways, and His thoughts are not my thoughts. (See Isaiah 55:8-9.) They are far deeper and wider than mine, and they go beyond what I can comprehend.

And while I trusted that God uses all things for good (see Romans 8:28), I still didn’t know how much more crushing and pressing my heart could bear.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus proclaims,

“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” Mark 16:20

Traditionally, today is the Solemnity of the Ascension, which many of us will commemorate this Sunday. At that time, the Easter candle will be extinguished to remind us that Jesus has taken His seat in Heaven at the right hand of the Father, where “He might now appear before God on our behalf.” (Hebrews 9:24)

As Dom Benedict Baur writes in Light of the World, “He does not allow us to wander from His eyes even for a moment. He makes our business His business, our needs His needs.”

What a consolation the Ascension is! Because Jesus is in Heaven “to make intercession for [us].” (Hebrews 7:25)

And during one of the most difficult times in my life, meditating on this has given me a tremendous amount of comfort, hope, and peace.

It also has given me courage to accept and embrace my cross. Because “absolutely nothing happens in God’s world by mistake.” (author unknown)

Ponder:

Can you recall a time when your grief became joy? How does remembering how God worked in the past help you trust Him in the present?

Pray:

Lord, thank You for interceding for me at the right hand of the Father. Please continue to settle the unsettled parts of my heart as I place my trust in You.

Click to tweet:
Jesus is in Heaven “to make intercession for [us].” (Hebrews 7:25) . . . Meditating on this has given me a tremendous amount of comfort, hope, and peace. #DailyGospel

Copyright 2024 Sarah Damm