THE GIFT

(Everything is grace - St. Therese of Liseux)

Recollection Module for Grade 8 students

Facilitator’s Guide

Christian B. Pajutan
San Pablo Theological Formation House
 I. Objectives
A. To help the students discover their gifts given by God
B. To determine the distinction between priceless and material gifts
C. To realize how Jesus paid the price, gave Himself as a gift and ransom for many

II. Module Outline*

TIME ACTIVITY

AM SESSION

8:00am - 8:30am Preparation

8:30am - 9:30am Session 1:

A. Opening Prayer
B. GTK Activity
C. Introductory Activity: Gift from
heaven
D. Talk 1: My Gifts

9:30am - 10:00am Break Time

10:00am - 10:30am Activity: Prices and Gifts

10:30am - 11:30am Sharing

11:30am - 12:00nn Deepening

12:00nn - 1:00pm Lunch

PM Session

PM SESSION

1:00pm - 1:15pm Preparation

1:15pm - 1:45pm Ice breaker Activity

Review of AM Session

1:45pm - 2:45pm Catechesis: Jesus and the gift of Salvation

2:45pm - 3:00pm Paraliturgy

*Time may adjust if there is a Eucharistic Celebration or the school prepared their own schedule
 INTRODUCTION

The facilitator will prepare a box with a mirror inside it. He will tell the students that they
will find inside the box the greatest gift from heaven. One by one, students will look at the mirror
inside the box. It is better to maintain a meditative atmosphere during the activity. The facilitator
may play instrumental music to help the students reflect during the activity.

After the activity, the facilitator will ask the reactions or feelings of some students.

DISCOVERING THE GIFT

People nowadays live in a very troubled life. If you will look deeply on the people’s situation,
you can see so many troubles and above the all complains in their life. Puno ng reklamo ang tao.
Kapag mainit ang panahon, naiinis, nababadtrip sa araw. Kapag naman malamig ang panahon,
nababadtrip sa ginaw. Wala ng mapaglagyan ang Diyos sa atin. Kaya naman sa araw na ito,
gustong ipaalala sa atin na madalas kaya ang tao ay problemado at malungkot, kasi madalas
niyang bilangin ang mga bagay na wala siya kaysa sa mga bagay na meroon siya. So, what is the
challenge to us today? Discover the gifts that you have. Instead of counting the gifts that you do
not have, learn to count the things that you have. At doon natin matatagpuan na masuwerte pala
tayo. NApakarami palang biyaya tayong tinatanggap.

LIFE AS A GIFT
And the first gift that you must appreciate is your own self, your own life. And many people fail
to appreciate life as a gift. Minsan pagkagising sa umaga, imbis na magdasal at magpasalamat
dahil nagising, mas nauuna pa ‘yung sumimangot. Pagkakagising, nakasimangot na agad! Parang
utang na loob pa ng Diyos na kayo ay ginising. Life is a gift! Imagine that at the moment you
woke up, there are hundreds of people who were not able to continue their life anymore. Be
thankful, kasi sa sandaling iyon, pinili pa ng Diyos na iextend ang buhay ninyo, kahit
nakasimangot kayo!

Do you look at yourself as a gift?​ Tingnan ninyo ang reaksyon ninyo noong makita niyo ‘yung
sarili niyo kanina doon sa kahon. In whatever circumstances in life, believe that you are a gift.
Maraming kabataan ngayon, nagtatanong kung paano nila titingnan ang sarili bilang regalo kung
ang sitwasyon ng buhay nila ay napakasaklap. Paano titingnan ang buhay bilang isang regalo
kung ikaw ay iniwan ng magulang mo? O di kaya’y nagmula ka sa isang broken family? Kung
ikaw ay niloko o naging broken hearted? Minsan ang hirap tingnan ang sarili bilang isang regalo
lalo’t higit sa mga panahong parang ang malas malas ng buhay. But today, I want you to realize
the value of self esteem during these hard times. Wag na wag niyong iisipin na kapag nanggaling
kayo sa broken family, ang pamilya na bubuuin niyo balang araw ay magiging broken din, wag
niyong isipin na dahil iniwan kayo ng mahahalagang tao sa buhay ninyo o niloko kayo, ay lahat
na ng tao ganun din ang gagawin sa inyo. Hindi ibig sabihin na broken ka ngayon at habang
buhay ka ng magiging broken. Hiind. Your past does not define your future! Life is a matter of
choice. And that choice depends on you! Everyday you can choose between ​“to be better”​ or to
be ​“bitter forever”​. Learn to ​accept and befriend yourself. ​Instead na sabihin mong “hindi mo
kaya”, lagi mong tapikin ‘yung puso mo “kaya mo! Kaya mo!” You have a value. ‘Yung
katotohanan na araw araw kang nagigising at katotohanan din na araw araw kang mahalaga para
sa Diyos. Importante ka, regalo ka! You have a value and a mission to make!

At sa buhay na ito, patuloy tayong pinupuno ng Diyos ng regalo. We discover that we are gifts
because God continously bless us with so many gifts. And this will bring us to the second
important gift in our life.

FAMILY AS A GIFT
This is a beautiful gift to us. Sana makita niyo ito palagi. And the “family” that we are talking
about is not just our parents or blood-relatives. This also includes our friends and special persons
who became part of our family circle. Walang tao ang kayang mabuhay ng walang pamilya. As
the dictum states: ​No man is an island. ​No one can live alone. Even if many times, nagyayabang
tayo na gusto nating mag-isa, ayaw ng kasama, at the end of the day, lulunukin natin ang yabang
na yan kasi maghahanap at maghahanap tayo ng makakasama sa buhay. Man is naturally a
relational being. At walang nilikha ang Diyos na pinabayaan niyang maging mag-isa. There is an
instance in America, na may isang newborn baby na iniwan ng kaniyang magulang sa basurahan.
Later on, may asong bumuhat doon sa bata at dinala ito sa police station. Nailigtas ng aso ‘yung
bata. At that moment, ang pamilya ng bata ay ‘yung aso. Hindi naging mag-isa ‘yung bata. This
is why we must learn to value our family as a gift. Imagine a life without your family, without
those important persons in your life. Ano kayang pakiramdam? Uuwi ka sa bahay, at ikaw lang
ang mag-isa, wala ng sisita, wala ng manenermon, magagawa mo lahat ng gusto mo. Pero at the
end, hindi masaya kasi mag-isa ka! Maraming tao, napahalagahan lang o nakita lang ang
kahalgahan ng pamilya nila kung kailan nasa kahon na o kaya wala na ang mga ito. Sana makita
natin ang kahalagahan nila habang kasama pa natin sila. Oo, may mga pagkukulang, may mga
kinaiinisan tayo sa mga taong ito. Wala namang perpektong pamilya, walang perpektong tao.
They are still gifts to us that we need to treasure. Kasi tayo, they treasure us sa kabila ng marami
nating pagkukulang.

MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Lastly, let us learn to appreciate the material and spiritual gifts that we receive. ‘Yung mga
kinakain natin araw-araw, ‘yung pagpasok natin sa eskuwelahan, ‘yung mga simpleng bagay na
meroon tayo. Sana bawas bawasan natin ‘yung reklamo natin sa buhay. Let us be thankful kung
nakakakain tayo everyday. Imagine how many people who just eat isang beses sa isang araw, at
minsan ang pagkain pa nila ay galing sa basurahan. Minsan nagrereklamo pa tayo kasi ang
daming assignments, ang daming pinapagawa ng teacher sa school. Buti nga tayo assignments
lang ang problema. ‘Yung ibang bata, indigenous children, poor children, kailangan pa nilang
tumawid ng bundok at ilog para lang makapag-aral. Tulad natin may assignment din sila, pero
they are so eager to learn na handa nilang magpuyat sa paggawa ng home work at maglakad ng
isang oras, tumawid sa bundok at ilog para lamang matuto. Kaya be thankful to what you have
today! Be thankful to the material and spiritual gifts that you receive from God and from your
family. Tapikin ninyo ang sarili ninyo at sabihin ninoy, “masuwerte ako”.

TREASURING THE GIFTS

These are gifts that we need to realize. To conclude this talk, I’ll just leave 4 important points for
you to remain grateful in life and continuously value the gifts that God has given you.

BEST
B - BE HAPPY ALWAYS
This is a reminder from Jollibee. Remain happy and grateful everyday. Learn to smile. St.
Mother Teresa emphasizes that “smile is the beginning of love.” At ang saya ng puso ay
nakakahawa. When people who are full of burden see you smiling, it somehow uplifts
their self-esteem. Our smiles give hope to those who are depressed. Kaya, learn to greet
people that you met with a smile. Happiness of the heart is a reminder of gratefulness.
Ang tao na sa kabila ng paghihirap ay nanatiling masaya, ay isang taong punong puno ng
pag-asa at pagtitiwala sa Diyos. Our smile is a reminder of how we are truly grateful in
life. That smile will be a mark that God is so good that he blesses you. Let your face be
an image of God’s goodness through that smile.

E - ESTIMATE NEGATIVITY
We cannot remove the reality of problems, distress, challenges. Sabi nga, lahat tayo may
pinagdadaanan. Pero, eto nga ang katotohanan: ​PINAGDADAANAN​. Daanan mo lang,
wag mong tambayan. Problems are just there to make us strong and to teach us important
lessons in life. Sometimes, ​Problems are blessing in disguise​. Just be strong and hold
on. Wag niyong hayaang tapakan kayo ng problema, kayo ang tumapak sa problema,
gawin niyong hagdan para makamit niyo ang goal niyo sa buhay.

S - STOP COMPARING YOURSELF

Most of the time kaya hindi natin maappreciate ‘yung gifts natin kasi madalas we
compare ourselves to others. Bakit siya meroon, ako wala? But let us be reminded that
the gifts we receive is enough for us, fit for us. Kaya sana instead na mainggit tayo,
matuto tayong makuntento. Mayroon ding mga bagay na meroon ka pero wala ang iba.
Magpasalamat ka sa kung anong meroon ka.
 T - TRUST GOD
All the gifts that we have came to God. Thus, we must trust God that the gifts we receive
from Him are essential and enough for us to grow in holiness. Sana alalahanin natin na
ang ibinibigay ng Diyos sa atin ay hindi ‘yung gusto natin pero higit ‘yung kailangan
natin!

ACTIVITY
(Response from the Session 1)

The facilitator will ask the students to draw the different gifts that they receive (family,
friends, important gifts). Individually, they will put a price on these gifts. The highest price is
100 and the lowest price is 10. They will make an artistic illustration of every gift according to
its price.

Example:

Price: 90 Price: 50
The Price will indicate the value of the gift for a participant

SHARING
(Response from the Session 1)
The facilitator will group the students into a small group for the sharing. They will use
these guide questions for their sharing:
1. What/Who are the gifts you draw?
2. Explain the value or the prices for each gift.
3. Explain the story behind the value of these gifts.

The facilitator will choose some students to share their artwork in the big group. He will
also deepen their sharing through his own experience or own work for this activity.
 CATECHESIS:
JESUS AND THE GIFT OF SALVATION

A GENERAL GIFT FOR ALL

Aside from the personal gifts that we receive from God, we also receive common gift from His
Son, Jesus. This is the gift of salvation.

GIFT OF SALVATION
Salvation came from the very basic term “saved.” Iniligats. Bakit ba kailangang iligtas? We save
a person because he might fall or he is already in the realm of danger. Kaya inililigtas ang tao o
ang ating kapwa kasi malapit na siya sa kapahamakan o naroon na siya sa kapahamakan. Now,
why God need to save the people?

THE DANGER OF SIN

Because they are already in danger. What danger are they in? The Danger of Sin. If you are
going back to the first book of the Bible, you’ll discover how Adam and Eve embrace this
danger. Noong una okay naman kasi talaga lahat. In 7 days, God created the heaven and earth. At
may mahalagang note doon sa paglikha na ‘yun: “Everything was very good!” (Gn 1:31).
Napakaganda ng nilikha ng Diyos. It seems everything is in order, everything was perfect!
Parang happily ever after na nga ‘yung kuwento. Pero tulad sa isang teleserye, hindi kumpleto
ang kuwento kung walang kontrabida. The Devil - the serpent - the most cunning creature ay
pumasok sa kuwento na masaya na sana! At sinong kinausap? Si Eba, the woman in the creation
of God. Minsan parang totoo ang kasabihan na madaldal talaga ang mga babae. Sa
pakikipag-usap palang ni Eba sa ahas, may mali na agad. Una, dapat hindi siya nakapag-usap sa
stranger. Di naman niya kilala, bakit niya kakausapin? Bakit ieentertain? Pangalawa,
nakipag-usap siya sa isang wierd na creature: isang ahas na angsasalita. Imagine, kung ako ‘yun
mananakbo na ako sa takot. Aba, saan ka nakakita? Ahas nagsasalita? Ano ka nasa mundo ni
Harry Potter?

Kiddingly aside, the serpent tempted Eve, and later on she ate the forbidden fruit. At dahil
mapagbigay si Eba, binigyan niya din si Adan. So both of them sinned against God. But if you
are going to study the temptation of the devil, isang tukso lang naman talaga ang nagpaakit sa
tao. Ano ‘yun? “To be above God!”

TO BE ABOVE GOD
“You will not die… You will be like God!” (Gn 3:15)
Kung tutuusin, kahit hindi nila kainin ‘yung prutas na ipinagbabawal, buhay Diyos na sila.
Ibinigay sa kanila ang mundo, ipinakatiwala, binigyan ng kapangyarihan na pangalanan mo lahat
ng nilikha ng Diyos. They have dominion over all the creation. O di ba? They shared to the
Divine power of God because they are “created in the image and likeness of God!” (Gn 1:27).
Pero ito ‘yung mali, they never appreciate that gift that they already have. Diyos na nga sila sa
mundo, puwede na nilang kontrolin lahat. Pero hindi sila nakuntento, pati ang Diyos kinainggitan
nila at gusto din nilang makontrol. At dito pumasok ang kasalanan.

WE ARE IN DANGER
Because of sin, we receive the most extreme punishment: Death. But it is not just death here on
earth, but also eternal death, which we call hell. Anong ibig sabihin ng impyerno? Sometimes we
look at it as a place of unending fire. Pero ang totoo ang impyerno ang estado kung saan wala
kang mararamdaman na presensiya ng Diyos. Ibig sabihin, walang presensya ng pag-ibig, puro
galit, puro sama ng loob, puro sakit, puro hinagpis. Para kang pinapatay pero hindi ka mamatay
matay.

FOR GOD SO LOVE THE WORLD

Love. God still love the world. God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son (Jn
3:16). God still love us despite the sin and the pain we committed against him. He gave Jesus. Si
Hesus, Diyos na. Kompleto na. He can live without us because He has the ultimate power, He is
God. At ang pagkakatawang tao ni Hesus ay isang sandali na parang ‘yung Hari nagbihis pulubi
para ipaalam sa mga pulubi at dukha na katulad natin, na mahal na mahal tayo ng Hari.

JESUS AS A GIFT
At alam natin kung paano tayo iniligtas ni Hesus. Still, many of us cannot understand the whole
meaning of the passion and death of Jesus. Feeling natin, nagpapaawa lang ang Diyos,
angsuicide siya para sa atin. But no. Jesus use the cross so that each one of us will His hands
raised for us. Ipinapako niya na ang kamay niya ng nakataaas para sa mga taong patuloy na
magtatanong kung sino ang magmamahal at mananatiling tapat sa kanila. Dalawang kamay ang
nakataas, sasagot si Hesus, “Ako”. Ipinapako niya na ang kaniyang kamay para makita ng bawat
isa na may Diyos na mahal na mahal sila.

FORGETTING JESUS, FORGETTING THE BEAUTY OF LIFE

Kaya, sa tuwing malilimutan natin si Hesus, nalilimutan natin ang kagandahan ng buhay ng tao.
Hindi ba kayo nagtataka bakit maraming tao ang nagnanakaw, pumapatay, nangrerape,
gumagawa ng masama? Sila ‘yung mga taong nakalimutan na na may nagmamahal sa kanila.
Kapag nalimutan natin na tayo ay minamahal, ang feeling natin wala na tayong kuwenta, at
kapag ang tingin natin sa sarili natin ay wala ng kuwenta, ang tingin natin sa lahat ay basura
nalang. Kaya madali ng gumawa ng masama. Kaya sana, wag nating kalimutan si Hesus ang
magagandang bagay na ginawa niya para sa atin.
LOOK AT THE CROSS
Ito dapat ang maging ugali natin: ang tumingin sa krus. To focus ourselves to the cross. The
cross is not an image of pain, an image of suffering but it is an image of love. Kaya sa mga
pagkakataon na tila aprang wala ng kahulugan ‘yung buhay natin, parang wala ng silbi ‘yung
mga ginagawa natin, na parang wala ng nagmamahal sa atin, tumingin lang kayo sa krus. Doon
matatagpuan niyo ang isang lalaki, isang tao, isang Diyos, nakataas ang dalawang kamay at
nagsasabing “Narito ako, ang hindi magsasawang magmahal sa’yo, hidni magbabago sa
pagtingin sa’yo, ang mananatiling kasama mo.” At ganun din sa mga pamilya natin na
nahihirapan, sabihin niyo sa kanila, tumingin lang sila sa krus.

PARALITURGY

The facilitator will ask the students to get a one-fourth sheet of paper. They will cut this
and make four pieces of paper. Then, they will write 4 important gifts on it (i.e. Parents, Brother,
bestfriend etc.). They can write anything except gifts about God. After that, they will rank these
gifts from most valuable to valuable. 1 is the highest and 4 is the lowest.

The facilitator will ask the participants to throw the paper from the no. 4 to no. 1. In each
paper, he will ask them to reflect on the importance of this gifts. As they throw the gifts, they
also throw them out in their life.

At the end, the facilitator will lead the activity into the fantasy prayer.