Sacred Heart of Jesus (Consecration of USA)

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Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus / June 12, 2026

1. Not a Bargain, but a Covenant

In Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the young girl Scout is about to begin first grade in school. The problem is that Scout already knows how to read. You wouldn't think this skill at literacy would be a problem, but we find out that it is.

In fact, Scout has been reading for years with the encouragement of her father, Atticus Finch.

On her first day of school, her teacher is surprised to discover that Scout can read not only the alphabet and her schoolbooks, but even newspaper articles and the stock market tables in the newspaper.

Instead of praising her, however, the teacher tells Scout that she should stop reading at home. She should only learn to read at school. No extra reading. No reading with her father. No reading newspapers at home.

Now that sounds strange to us. Most parents and teachers would be delighted to find a child who loves to read.

Scout certainly thinks it is strange.

She comes home discouraged and tells her father that she does not want to go back to school.

Atticus listens patiently and asks her whether she knows what a compromise is.

Eventually they arrive at an agreement. Scout will continue going to school, and Atticus promises that they will continue reading together at home every evening as they always have.

Scout thinks of it as a bargain.

But I would suggest it is more than a bargain.

A bargain says:

"I will do this if you do that."

A covenant says:

"I give myself to you."

What Atticus is really offering his daughter is not simply a deal. He is offering his support, his encouragement, and his love.

That distinction helps us understand today's Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

In our first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the people that God chose Israel. Yet God did not choose them because they were the strongest nation, the richest nation, or the largest nation.

God chose them because He loved them.

God made a covenant with them.

God did not begin with a calculation.

God began with love.

And the same thing is true for us.

Sometimes we imagine that God loves us because we have earned His love. We think God loves us because we have been good enough, holy enough, or faithful enough.

But Scripture tells us something different.

God loves first.

God acts first.

God gives first.

And then He invites us to respond.

2. The Sacred Heart and the Love of Christ

Saint John gives us one of the most beautiful lines in all of Scripture:

"God is love."

That love became visible in Jesus Christ.

That is what the Sacred Heart devotion is about.

The Sacred Heart is not merely an image. It points to the heart of Christ, the heart that loved us unto death.

Jesus did not merely speak about love.

He lived it.

He suffered for it.

He died for it.

The Sacred Heart reminds us that mercy is not an idea. Mercy has a face. Mercy has a name. Mercy is Jesus Christ.

3. Consecrating Our Nation

This year the bishops of the United States have asked Catholics throughout our country to pray for a renewed consecration of our nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  (Click Here for Prayer of Consecration)

That consecration is not primarily political.

It is a prayer for mercy.

We pray for mercy in our country, for our country, and from our country.

We pray for our leaders, whether we voted for them or not.

We pray that they govern with wisdom, justice, and respect for human dignity.

And we pray that Christ renew not only our nation but also our own hearts.

Because every renewal of a nation begins with the renewal of a heart.

4. A Greater Invitation than the Statue of Liberty

Living here in the New York and New Jersey area, another image comes to mind.

One of the most recognizable symbols of our nation is the Statue of Liberty.

Many of us know the famous words written by Emma Lazarus:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

For generations these words represented hope, welcome, and the possibility of a new beginning.

For countless immigrants arriving in New York Harbor, seeing the Statue of Liberty meant that perhaps life could begin again.

But today the Gospel presents us with an invitation that is even greater.

Jesus says:

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest."

Notice what Jesus does not say.

He does not say:  "Come to me if you have everything figured out."

He does not say: "Come to me if you are already holy."

He does not say: "Come to me if you have never sinned."

Instead He says: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened."

Jesus welcomes the tired.

Jesus welcomes sinners.

Jesus welcomes those carrying guilt.

Jesus welcomes those burdened by grief.

Jesus welcomes those who have wandered away.

Jesus welcomes those who want to begin again.

The Statue of Liberty became a symbol of political freedom.

The Sacred Heart points to something even greater.

The Statue of Liberty says:

"Give me your tired."

Jesus says:

"Come to me."

The Statue of Liberty offers the hope of a new homeland.

Jesus offers the hope of a new heart.

The Statue of Liberty offers liberty.

Jesus offers liberation from sin.

The Statue of Liberty stands beside a golden door.

Jesus opens the door of eternal life.

5. Come to Me

Many people today are carrying heavy burdens.

Some carry burdens of illness.

Some carry burdens of grief.

Some carry burdens of anxiety.

Some carry burdens of family struggles.

Some carry burdens of sin.

Jesus does not promise that every burden will disappear.

But He does promise His presence.

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart."

Notice those words:

"Humble of heart."

The Sacred Heart is not only an image for us to admire.

It is a heart for us to imitate.

Its humility.

Its mercy.

Its compassion.

Its love.

As we join Catholics throughout our country in this renewed consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us ask Christ to renew our hearts, renew our families, and renew our nation.

For the greatest freedom is not merely political freedom.

The greatest freedom is the freedom to be forgiven.

And so we hear once again the invitation of Jesus:

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest."

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.