Absolutely, sort of... LOL! Matter absorbs space. While space is being captured by matter, that space is stretched. Gravity is a force that represents the absorption rate of space by any given mass. It doesn't do any work, because it is not energy, merely a component of energy. You must apply a force to a mass, thereby moving it over a distance to do work. How much time involved to do that work determines the power used. In the approximation equation E=MC^2, the C^2 is actually the net gravitational force of the mass. Anything else, and the Laws of Thermodynamics begin to fail. Whenever physicists wrap themselves into that box of conventional thinking, they don't apply the fact that matter absorbs space, while energy releases that stored space; thus, their equations don't balance. When their equations don't balance, they conjure up stuff like dark matter, dark energy, gravitons, etc., (consider all of those failures by physicists to properly define and apply gravity).
Energy being released into the cosmos releases space, thus the universe appears to be expanding. Galaxies don't blow apart because they release energy into the cosmos, and that energy's releasing of space creates a recoil effect onto the outer star systems, pushing them back (repelling back inward, sort of an anti-gravity), as the Laws of Thermodynamics predict.
To this day, physicists do not give you a proper definition of gravity, only how to calculate its effects on mass. Nor do they give you a proper definition of energy, which is merely a mass particle (photon) releasing its space back into the universe. Different forms of energy release that space in their own unique wavelengths. Think of matter absorbing space like a sponge absorbs water. A syphoning effect can be done by either, which literally "stretches" the water or the space, as it is being absorbed (pulled inside).
The Big Bang happened as most (or possibly all) the matter in our universe was brought together by gravity. As the mass increased, the gravity increased, absorbing space ever faster, until there was not enough space left over for the mass to absorb. At that instant (this happened very quickly, nanoseconds, or less) the mass tried to absorb the space from itself, reducing it to almost a singularity. Since the Laws of Thermodynamics tell us matter cannot be destroyed (it can be converted to energy, which is frozen matter, if you will), it could not be reduced into nothing, which resulted in the greatest explosion ever known. Most of the original nearly infinitely dense mass was converted to energy, releasing space. Since this energy is still being released, the universe continues to expand. As the energy dissipates, it eventually ceases to release space, becoming a mass particle once again. At that point, it becomes a matter (ha, ha!) of rinse, lather, and repeat... A cycle. All the energy stops releasing space, the universe begins to shrink as the mass begins to reabsorb space once again. The real question is how many times has the universe already cycled? Is this the last cycle, the first, or just another one of an infinitesimal amount of cycles?
What people find confusing is their attempts at defining gravity as some mystical force, instead of simply realizing that matter absorbs space, and energy releases space. We see it all the time, with every explosion. Exothermic chemical reactions expand volume of the mass, while endothermic reactions shrink the mass. Split an atom, space is released by the energy from the converting mass. We see it as an explosion. When the dust settles, everything congeals back together as matter reabsorbs space. It really isn't that difficult to understand, so long as you remove yourself from that box of conventional thinking, then stand back with open eyes (and mind), observing what is happening all around you!
Einstein began to realize his failure, which was the improper explanation of gravity. He tried to think of it as a ball on a blanket, distorting space around it, instead of realizing that gravity is actually matter absorbing space within, more like the sponge absorbing that water. Since space really contains no volume, it can be compressed into a near infinitesimally small mass (photon). Time is relative to the observer, and thus, cannot be distorted, only misperceived. We all have our own perceptions of time. Most of us have had that sense, at one time or another, of time slowing down. Did time actually slow?... Of course not! Can space be stretched or bent? I think so, since an enormous amount of space can be compressed into a mass particle! Wouldn't it be bending if it were being compressed?... Yes!