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
Over 20 questions for faith sharing, RCIA, and bible study (with PDF handouts) by Fr. Tobin, Fr. Thibodeau, Vince Contreras, and Larry Broding
by Larry Broding at Word-Sunday.com
Used with permission.
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.
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)?
3. What two conflicting ideas about birth are Jesus and Nicodemus thinking of?
4. What does Jesus claim about himself in verses Jn 3:13-15?
5. In what way or ways do you “believe” in Jesus?
6. Are you more in the “darkness” or more in the “light” (Jn 3:19-21)?
by Edrianne Ezellv | Our Sunday Readings
Used with permission.
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.”
2. Some, if not many, Christians have a difficult time squaring God’s unconditional love with belief in hell.
3. Nicodemus comes to see Jesus at night so that his colleagues would not know of his interest in Jesus.
4. Name one thing today’s Gospel says to us that we disciples of Jesus need to heed and act on.
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.
2. Does Christ want us to accept all physical pain and not seek relief in any medication when we are sick or dying?
3. In what way can Lenten penances be seen as a voluntary participation in the cross and suffering of Christ?
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
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.”