PDF Small Group Discussion guides for bible study on the Mass readings for 5th Sunday of Lent A Ezekiel 37:12-14 Romans 8:8-11 John 11:1-45

Bible Study Discussion Questions

Bible Study Discussion Questions

Bible Study Discussion Questions

March 15, 2026

March 22, 2026

5th Sunday of Lent (A)

STUDY GUIDESCOMMENTARIESHEARERS OF THE WORDECHOING GOD'S WORDFRIAR MUSINGSCATHOLIC BIBLICAL STUDIESAGAPE BIBLE STUDYWIKIPEDIA

create a modern three panel infographic looking at Key Terms for Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 Romans 5:12-19 Matthew 4:1-11. The title should be large arial bold “FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (YEAR A)” Use large images and make sure font is not too small. I want it to be easily readable. No need to label each panel as Panel 1, Panel 2…. Instead simply give the chapter and verse followed a title that reflects that reading.

too much text, please summarize into key points and make the infographic less boxy, images should be embedded into background

create a three panel infographic with realistic images for the first reading, second reading, and Gospel for the 5th Sunday of Lent (Year A). In each panel identify key words and themes. i want it to have the following theme and layout:

Across the top banner, the main title text is: [Insert Main Top Banner Text, e.g., “5th SUNDAY OF LENT (YEAR A)”].

Panel 1 (Left Panel):

Header: Text with the reading type [Insert Reading Type, e.g., “FIRST READING”], biblical reference [Insert Reference, e.g., “EZEKIEL 37:12-14”], and a central subtitle snippet [Insert Subtitle, e.g., “I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT IN YOU”].

Illustration: A detailed, classical-style illustration of [Insert Panel 1 Scene Description, e.g., “a prophet in a valley of dry bones with graves opening”].

Lists (Two Columns): Structured lists with header text [Insert Column 1 Label, e.g., “KEY WORDS”] and [Insert Column 2 Label, e.g., “THEMES”], with [Insert Number, e.g., 6] matching items and unique, thematic icons in each list.

Summary: A brief text summary block at the bottom of the panel [Insert Panel 1 Summary Text].

Panel 2 (Center Panel):

Header: Text with the reading type [Insert Reading Type, e.g., “SECOND READING”], biblical reference [Insert Reference, e.g., “ROMANS 8:8-11”], and a central subtitle snippet [Insert Subtitle, e.g., “THE SPIRIT DWELLS IN YOU”].

Illustration: A detailed, classical-style illustration of [Insert Panel 2 Scene Description, e.g., “a diverse prayer group with Trinity symbols above”].

Lists (Two Columns): Structured lists with header text [Insert Column 1 Label] and [Insert Column 2 Label], with [Insert Number] matching items and unique icons in each list.

Summary: A brief text summary block at the bottom of the panel [Insert Panel 2 Summary Text].

Panel 3 (Right Panel):

Header: Text with the reading type [Insert Reading Type, e.g., “GOSPEL”], biblical reference [Insert Reference, e.g., “JOHN 11:1-45”], and a central subtitle snippet [Insert Subtitle, e.g., “I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE”].

Illustration: A detailed, classical-style illustration of [Insert Panel 3 Scene Description, e.g., “Jesus raising Lazarus from a tomb”].

Lists (Two Columns): Structured lists with header text [Insert Column 1 Label] and [Insert Column 2 Label], with [Insert Number] matching items and unique icons in each list.

Summary: A brief text summary block at the bottom of the panel [Insert Panel 3 Summary Text].

Video Guides

Matt Zemanek | Fr. Geoffrey Plant | Hector Molina | Fr. Francis Martin | Brant Pitre
Edrianne Ezzell | Vince Contreras | Fr. Kieran J. O’Mahony | Fr. Tim Peters
PARISH BIBLE STUDY - Matt Zemanek
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Matt Zemanek | Fr. Geoffrey Plant | Hector Molina | Fr. Francis Martin | Brant Pitre
Edrianne Ezzell | Vince Contreras | Fr. Kieran J. O'Mahony | Fr. Tim Peters
PRESENTATION - Fr. Geoffrey Plant
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Presentations for Upcoming Sunday are Posted on Monday

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Matt Zemanek | Fr. Geoffrey Plant | Hector Molina | Fr. Francis Martin | Brant Pitre
Edrianne Ezzell | Vince Contreras | Fr. Kieran J. O'Mahony | Fr. Tim Peters
A WALK IN THE WORD - Hector Molina
THE WORD PROCLAIMED - Fr. Francis Martin
MASS READINGS EXPLAINED - Brant Pitre

Discussion Study Guides

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Edrianne Ezell

Matt Zemanek | Fr. Geoffrey Plant | Hector Molina | Fr. Francis Martin | Brant Pitre
Edrianne Ezzell | Vince Contreras | Fr. Kieran J. O’Mahony | Fr. Tim Peters

Vince Contreras

Matt Zemanek | Fr. Geoffrey Plant | Hector Molina | Fr. Francis Martin | Brant Pitre
Edrianne Ezzell | Vince Contreras | Fr. Kieran J. O’Mahony | Fr. Tim Peters
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create a modern 8.5×11 infographic with large images and arial bold fonts based on the following text. Do not plagiarize rahter paraphrase give summaries . Place a single line in the footer: Inspiration for this infographic is from Scott Hahn’s Catholic Bible Dictionary.

A Sign of Jesus’ Resurrection


The Basis of Christian Hope


The One Sent


Our Own Stench


Jesus’ Empathy


Spirit of Life!


Jesus Shouted, Lazarus, Come Out!


More Commentaries


Disclosure: As an “Amazon Associate,” Fr. Felix Just, S.J. who compiled the above bibliography earns a very small commission from qualifying purchases made after someone clicks on the above product links.

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Gospel

create infographic with Photorealistic images, arial bold fonts, with backround #f6efe6 using large images and large bold arial fonts with title , footer should be centered and be in small font: Based on commentary from Fr.Kieran o’Mahony – Hearers of the Word (PDF) Base the infographic on the following (summarize and condense). I don’t want the infographic cluttered with small unreadable text.

TWTW infographics on this page present Fr. Kieran’s “GOSPEL COMMENTARY” and “POINTER FOR PRAYER” which are presented after each reading’s commentary. Please cross-reference the slides with the PDF if you notice any errors. Non-profits are welcome to utilize the provided graphics in their materials and presentations. Please acknowledge Fr. Kieran O’Mahony, OSA, and his website, taurus.ie. The graphics were designed by TheWordThisWeek.net using Gemini Pro 3 and Nano Banana. Proper attribution is appreciated.

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Discussion Pointers / Answers

Uncovering the Secret Recesses

“Roll away the stone!” Jesus invites us to uncover the evil, the sinfulness that lurks in the secret recesses of our lives. What means do you possess that will help you uncover your sins, that will reveal them to you? Do you dare bring out into the daylight of truth the “rot” and corruption that may have set in since you were baptized? Do you have the courage to ask a friend, a spiritual advisor, to help you uncover that which needs new life in you?

DISCUSSION GUIDE

To "roll away the stone" is an act of profound vulnerability. In the context of John 11, the stone was the only thing separating the living from the stench of decay. In our spiritual lives, we often use "stones"—busyness, intellectualism, or even religious routine—to mask the areas where we have allowed sin to settle.

  • The Means of Discovery: The most effective tool for this is the Daily Examen, a Jesuit practice of reviewing the day to see where God was present and where we resisted His grace. Another powerful means is Lectio Divina, letting the Word of God act as a "double-edged sword" that pierces through our self-justification.
  • The Daylight of Truth: Bringing "rot" into the light is the essence of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is the "daylight" where we stop managing our image and start receiving mercy. It takes a specific kind of courage to admit that since our Baptism, we have allowed certain "tombs" to be built in our hearts.
  • The Role of Others: We are often the worst judges of our own progress. A Spiritual Director or a trusted, "faith-filled" friend acts as a mirror. They see the patterns of pride or resentment that we have become blind to. Asking for help is the first sign that we are ready for the "new life" Jesus promises.

The Grief of Martha and Mary

Discuss how Martha and Mary represent what we often feel and do when we have suffered a great loss: anger, blaming, reaching out, asking for help (perhaps in that order). Have you ever had those experiences after having lost someone you loved? Where did you turn for help? Is Jesus Christ one of the persons to whom you would turn if you had suffered much?

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Martha and Mary provide a biblical "map" of the grieving heart. Their reactions are not signs of a lack of faith, but of a deeply personal relationship with a God who can handle our pain.

  • The Anatomy of Grief: When they say, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died," they are expressing a complex mix of anger and blaming. It is the "why" that haunts every person who has stood at a graveside. Yet, even in their pain, they are reaching out. Martha runs to meet Him on the road; Mary falls at His feet. They show us that it is possible to be furious with the circumstances of life while still clinging to the Author of Life.
  • Personal Response: After losing someone beloved, the temptation is often to "turn inward"—to isolate and protect the wound. However, those who find healing usually turn to a "cloud of witnesses": family who share the memory, and ultimately, Christ.
  • Christ as the Destination: Turning to Jesus in suffering isn't always about seeking an immediate "fix" or a miracle. It is about finding the God who "wept" (John 11:35). Knowing that Christ does not stand distant from our pain, but enters into the tomb with us, makes Him the primary person to whom we can surrender our "much suffering."

Untie Him and Let Him Go

Discuss the role of Christian disciples in response to Jesus’s command: “Untie him and let him go!” Does it surprise you that Jesus asks us to cooperate with him in overcoming evil? What are some of the ways in which you can help overcome death? Do you see caregivers as providing such cooperation? Do you see parents in their role as givers of life as cooperating with God in overcoming death? Do you see educators in that role?

DISCUSSION GUIDE

This command is one of the most striking moments in the Gospel. Jesus performs the "heavy lifting" of the miracle—bringing the dead to life—but He leaves the "unbinding" to the community. This reveals the co-redemptive nature of the Christian life.

  • Cooperation with the Divine: It is surprising that the Almighty God chooses to need us. He could have made the burial cloths disappear with a word, yet He commands the bystanders to get their hands dirty. This teaches us that while grace saves us, we are responsible for helping one another walk in that freedom.
  • Overcoming Death Daily: We overcome "death" whenever we choose hope over despair or charity over selfishness.
    • Caregivers: They are the literal hands of Christ, "untying" the sick from the bandages of isolation, fear, and physical limitation. They affirm the dignity of life in the face of bodily decay.
    • Parents: As "co-creators" with God, parents don't just give biological life; they fight the "death of the soul" by instilling values, faith, and unconditional love. Every time a parent forgives or teaches a child to hope, they are cooperating in God's victory over death.
    • Educators: Ignorance is a form of "binding." Educators "untie" the minds of their students, releasing them from the constraints of a narrow worldview and allowing them to "go" into the world as free, enlightened individuals.

create an 8.5×11 inch infographic with images based on an essay of Fr. Clement D. Thibodeau.

create an 8.5×11 inch infographic with images on a white background based on an essay of Fr. Clement D. Thibodeau.

Catholic Doctrine

The above bulletin insert was created using Nano Banana Pro with Gemini 3.0. The infographics draw inspiration from the content found in Fr. Clement Thibodeau’s Echoing The Word weekly column which was published nearly a decade ago. It may be used by any non-profit ministry.

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YouTube player
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Clean the following transcript up: correct the spelling of the biblical names and theological terms and correcting the Greek phonetic spellings, fix the grammar, remove the verbal stumbles, and organized the text into clear, readable sections using section titles.

Transcript

1st Reading – View 4 Slides

CONTINUE SLIDESHOW

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Responsorial – View 2 Slides

CONTINUE SLIDESHOW

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2nd Reading – View 2 Slides

CONTINUE SLIDESHOW

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Gospel – View 8 Slides

CONTINUE SLIDESHOW

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THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are based off Father Peters’ presentation. They were created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 3 Pro. You are free to use the them in any non-profit ministry. Proper attribution, however, must be given to Father Tim Peters, S.Th.D and THE WORD THIS WEEK.

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1st Reading

1st Reading - Search

2nd Reading

2nd Reading

Gospel

Gospel

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