200th Meditation
These would have been the last words of Pope Benedict XVI before he died; three simple words that allow us to take a deep look into the heart of this Pontiff, who will now meet God in all His glory.
Only the Holy Spirit can awaken in the hearts of men this love for Jesus and make them find their home in the love of the Holy Trinity. With these last words, Pope Benedict shows himself to be a child of this love.
“Jesus, I love you.”
We hear the voice of the Father exclaiming, “This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him” (Mt 17:5).
Just as our heavenly Father loves His only begotten Son, so all of us are called to be children of this love which the Father declared to us in Jesus:
“This is the revelation of God’s love for us, that God sent his only Son into the world that we might have life through him. Love consists in this: it is not we who loved God, but God loved us and sent his Son to expiate our sins” (1 Jn 4:9-10).
Pope Benedict understood this and lived it. His last words are a legacy to us, so that we too – from now on and at the hour of our death – may say with all our heart: “Jesus, I love you”.
This is the mystery of love which surrounds us and which Pope Benedict will now be able to enter into to the full. We rejoice for him and hope to meet him in eternity, to adore together the One who is love itself (1 Jn 4:8).
Rest in peace!
“Jesus, I love you.”