Family Bible Study - Third Sunday of Lent

Third Sunday of Lent, B
March 11, 2012
Gospel Passage
John 2:13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In
the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers
seated at their tables. 15 Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the
temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money
changers and overturned their tables. 16 He told those who were selling the doves,
“Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” 17
His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume
me.” 18 The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” 19
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20
The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and
will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking of the temple of his body.
22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this;
and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. 23 When he
was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because
they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part would not entrust
himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to testify about
anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.
Questions
Jesus was very angry in this reading when He sent the money changers out of
the temple with a whip. Why was He angry? If Jesus, who is God, could be
angry for a good reason, what does that mean about our anger? Can we get
angry at others if we have a good reason?
Jesus called his body a temple. St. Paul tells us that our bodies are “temples of
the Holy Spirit.” If that’s true (and it is!), how clean should we keep our
temple? How do we keep it clean? What can make it dirty?
Jesus had “zeal” for His Father’s house. Zeal means really strong love. Do you
have zeal for the things of God?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - 3rd Sunday of Lent

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
The Israelites grumbles against Moses because they
were thirsty. Jesus gave the Samaritan woman water, and
satisfied the thirst of the people. Jesus, as He hung on the cross,
said: “I thirst.” The Church has looked at these Sacred Scripture
passages as a promise and a fulfillment of the living waters of
Baptism. If we still thirst, then we need to realize what Jesus
has given us at Baptism. He has shared His life with us. Jesus
thirsts for all of us to come and drink of the life that He holds
out to us. He thirsts for each one of us to be one with Him.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - 3rd Sunday of Lent

Gospel Passage
John 4:5 So he came to a city of Samar'ia, called Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6
Jacob's well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was
about the sixth hour. 7 There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink."
8 For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it
that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samar'ia?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. 10
Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, `Give me a drink,' you
would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." 11 The woman said to him, "Sir, you
have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than
our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" 13 Jesus said
to her, "Every one who drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall
give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to
eternal life." 15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to
draw." 19 The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this
mountain; and you say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." 21 Jesus said to her,
"Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the
Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth,
for such the Father seeks to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit
and truth." 25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he
comes, he will show us all things." 26 Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he." 39 Many Samaritans
from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." 40 So when
the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. 41 And many
more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of your words that
we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."
Questions for discussion -

1. Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that he can give her “living water” that will
be like a spring inside of her leading her to heaven. What do you think is this
water that Jesus is talking about? Do we ever use water in Church? What for?

2. Jesus says in the Gospel, “I who speak to you am He.” What does He mean?
Who is He? And what does that mean?

3. Jesus went to the well because he was “weary” or very tired from his
journey. What does that tell you about Jesus?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - Third Sunday of Lent

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
Lent is a call to repentance. Jesus tells us how we
are to repent and to turn to Him. Our desert scene in front of
the altar is a reminder that we are on this Lenten Retreat with
Jesus. Repentance and showing forgiveness and mercy are
the messages that this season brings to us. God called Moses
to be the instrument of freedom to be given to the Israelites.
Jesus is our instrument of salvation. Cling to Him and
follow Him and salvation with be ours.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - Third Sunday of Lent

Gospel Passage
Luke 13:1 At that very time there were some present who told him about
the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 He
asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way
they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3 No, I tell you; but unless
you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen who were
killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them — do you think that they were
worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but
unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.” 6 Then he told this
parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking
for fruit on it and found none. 7 So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For
three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none.
Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ 8 He replied, ‘Sir, let it
alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. 9 If it
bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’

Questions for Discussion -

1. Jesus says we have two choices: Be sorry for our sins and live forever in
Heaven OR Keep sinning and die. We all want to go to Heaven, so how are you
going to stop sinning and be forgiven?

2. Jesus says that he wants us to “bear fruit” (do good things for others) in our
lives, and not be like a fig tree without any figs. Do you think your life is
“fruitful”? What fruit (acts of faith, hope and love) have you been “bearing”
in your life as a disciple of Jesus? Have you tried to bring others to him?

3. Jesus says that He wants us to do good things for him NOW, not to put it off for later! So what are you going to try to do TODAY and THIS WEEK for the God
who loves you?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry