In today’s Gospel (Luke 9:7–9), we hear of Herod’s confusion about Jesus: “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” Just as people in Herod’s day struggled to understand Christ, many in our own time wrestle with what it means to follow Him faithfully in society and politics.

Saint Stephen, whose feast day we celebrate on Dec. 26, is one of the first ordained deacons of the Church and the first Christian martyr we read about in the Bible. Father Chris Alar, MIC, explains the clerical state of the diaconate, and reminds us that Catholic priests are also ordained deacons. Then Fr. Mark Baron, MIC, sits down with Bishop William Byrne of the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts, to discuss the true meaning of Christmas.

The Meaning of the Holy Name of Jesus and why we celebrate it as a Feast on January 3. In this easy-to-understand talk, Fr. Chris Alar explains the symbols of Jesus' name, like IHS, and why using God's name in vain is much more than simply swearing.