Bible/Catechism
Study Guides – 4th Sunday Lent (B)
Over 20 questions for faith sharing, RCIA, and bible study (with PDF handouts) by Fr. Tobin, Fr. Thibodeau, Vince Contreras, and Larry Broding
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QUESTIONSCATHOLIC DOCTRINECATECHISMRCIA VIDEOS
Word-Sunday.com
Video Overview
by Larry Broding at Word-Sunday.com
Used with permission.
Option A
Bible Study Questions
by Vince Contreras | Sunday Scripture Study for Catholics
Used with permission.
1. The 1st reading from 2nd Chronicles gives a short summary of the events leading up to the exile of the people of the kingdom of Judah into Babylon around the year 586 B.C.
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- What was the sin of the people that led up to the exile (2 Chr 36:14)?
- In what ways did God try to warn them?
- What was their response?
- Through what means were they restored?
- What can we learn from their experience?
2. What can you find out about the person Jesus is addressing in this Sundays Gospel passage (Jn 3:1- 2, Jn 7:50; Jn 19:39)?
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- What is significant about his coming to Jesus?
- Why at night (verses Jn 3:19-20)?
- How is this related to what was said in last week’s reading, especially verses Jn 2:24-25?
3. What two conflicting ideas about birth are Jesus and Nicodemus thinking of?
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- What necessary sacrament is Jesus referring to in verses Jn 3:5-8?
- How does Jesus account for Nicodemus’ lack of understanding?
- What does the Church teach about being “born again” (Jn 3:5; 1 Peter 3:19-20)
- Catechism: CCC 1213, 1215, 1228, 1257, 1263, 1265-1270, 1277)
4. What does Jesus claim about himself in verses Jn 3:13-15?
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- From verses 16-18, what stands out to you about God?
- About what he wants to do?
- About how a person is condemned?
- How belief will manifest itself (Jn 3:15-21, 36)?
5. In what way or ways do you “believe” in Jesus?
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- Intellectual acceptance?
- As the Son of God?
- As Savior and Lord?
- By picking up your own cross every day in faith and obedience? How?
6. Are you more in the “darkness” or more in the “light” (Jn 3:19-21)?
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- What would it take for you to move more into the light?
- What can you do to make that happen?
Option B
Reflection Questions
by Edrianne Ezellv | Our Sunday Readings
Used with permission.
2 CHRONICLES 36:14-16,19-23
- In what particular ways might the people have polluted God’s temple?
- In what ways do you think Catholics today “pollute” or desecrate the Church?
- How did God first respond when his people sinned?
- Who would you say has guided the Church and its members toward repentance?
-  What losses did God’s people endure?
- What losses do we suffer for our own sins?
- How might God’s people have felt when they heard the decree of King Cyrus?
- In what ways could we apply Cyrus’ decree to people or groups today?
JOHN 3:14-21
- What all do you think God sees when he looks at the world?
- Does God want to condemn the world?
- What is the light?
- Why might some people prefer darkness?
- How does a person live the truth?
- What might be the works of those who approach the light?
- How does the light affect people? Living the word
- Do you think it’s easy to come to the light?
- What all draws you toward the light?
- What causes you to turn away from the light?
Option C
Faith Sharing Questions
by Fr. Eamon Tobin | Ascension Catholic Parish
Used with permission.
1. This Sunday’s Gospel has John’s famous 3:16 verse: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”
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- What has helped you to come to believe in God’s unconditional love for you?
- What in the past or present made it hard for you to believe in God’s unconditional love?
2. Some, if not many, Christians have a difficult time squaring God’s unconditional love with belief in hell.
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- What are your thoughts on this?
3. Nicodemus comes to see Jesus at night so that his colleagues would not know of his interest in Jesus.
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- Many Catholics are very quiet about their faith. What has or is helping you to be more public about your Catholic faith?
4. Name one thing today’s Gospel says to us that we disciples of Jesus need to heed and act on.
Option D
Essay Questions
by Fr. Clement Thibodeau | Echoing God’s Word (Portland Diocese)
Used with permission.
1. Share some of your personal experience of pain and suffering that led you to a deeper encounter with Christ the Lord.
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- Why do you think God chose to seek you out in suffering rather than in success?
- Do you believe that people are more likely to be open to God’s initiative when they have suffered a loss of some kind?
- Discuss the role of suffering and pain in the life of a Christian.
2. Does Christ want us to accept all physical pain and not seek relief in any medication when we are sick or dying?
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- Do you believe God might want us to accept some medical relief in order to direct more energy toward healing rather than just blindly enduring pain?
- Is there not merit also in having a clear head in order to praise God more effectively rather than letting pain distract us completely from God’s love?
3. In what way can Lenten penances be seen as a voluntary participation in the cross and suffering of Christ?
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- Can we not choose to share with Christ in his sacrificial suffering and dying?
- What value can be found in such a sharing with Christ?
- Can the sufferings of an individual Christian be joined to Christ’s and offered for the benefit of others in the “communion of saints”?
SUNDAY CONNECTION
The Examination of Conscience
by Fr. Clement Thibodeau | Echoing God’s Word (Portland Diocese)
Used with permission.
Facing up to the truth of our lives empowers us to overcome the evil that is present to all of us. Jesus said that the truth would set us free. Lies keep us in bondage. Falsehood can be and often is so subtle that it goes unnoticed. We have the ability to deceive ourselves and to become convinced that a lie is really the truth. Only when we face up to the truth can we be really free.
In the examination of conscience, we look at the truth about ourselves. In the Catholic tradition, we have the experience of looking at the truth in ourselves periodically as we prepare to celebrate the sacrament of penance. We present ourselves totally stripped of all pretenses and of all self-deceptions before God as we look over the condition of our souls. We pray that God may help us know and acknowledge the condition in which we find ourselves. We ask God to help us see the truth about ourselves. God always answers that kind of prayer.
We know in a flash the sinfulness of our hearts. We remember the times when we have been selfish and mean, the times when we have been cruel and vengeful, the times when we have failed in our loyalty to God. We look sin in the face in order to overcome it. A sin we have not faced up to cannot be repented. A sin we have not regretted in a real way still holds us in its bond.
The catechism contains an amazingly up-to-date consideration of the Examination of Conscience to be done before celebrating the sacrament of penance:
The reception of this sacrament (Penance) ought to be prepared for by an examination of conscience made in the light of the Word of God. The passages best suited for this can be found in the moral catechesis of the Gospels and the apostolic letters, such as the Sermon on the Mount and the apostolic teachings.(Matthew 5-7; Romans 12-15; 1 Corinthians 12-13; Galatians 5; Ephesians 4-6, etc.).
The Word of God in the Holy Bible is the place to find guidance for the examination of conscience.
The next time we prepare for the confession of our sins, we need to take out our Bible and read the passages suggested above. That way, we will be preparing our repentance and forgiveness according to the Word of God as indicated in the catechism. There is no hiding from God when his Word confronts us with the truth. See: The Catechism of the Catholic Church: # 1454
SOURCE: © 2017 Portland Diocese / Father Clement D. Thibodeau. Used with permission.
CYCLE B
Catechism Themes
Fourth Sunday of Lent
CCC 389, 457-458, 846, 1019, 1507: Christ as Savior
CCC 679: Christ the Lord of eternal life
CCC 55: God wants to give man eternal life
CCC 710: Israel’s exile foreshadowed the Passion
“The following paragraphs from the Catechism of the Catholic Church resonate with the biblical readings for this Sunday. They were chosen either because they cite or allude to the specific readings, or because they treat topics found in the readings.”
—Homiletic Directory
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