Duc in Altum

Do you remember what Jesus said to Peter and his brother Andrew when He met them? Did they not hear, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Mt 4:19)?  Similarly was my case, but from one of Jesus’ fisher/religious “women.” It was so surreal because I fell for the bait when one of His deckhands, a Dominican sister, caught me off guard.

About five summers ago, I had the rare opportunity to go on a camping trip Back to the Promised Land with the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement (VEYMs) in Orange County, CA, where I also met the aforementioned sister. She was lugging this enormous black sack (the bait) back to her room. Intuitively I looked over and instantly the perceived weight of it bombarded my mind and in a nanosecond triggered a quick altruistic response. I rushed over and offered to help her while grabbing onto the “hefty” bag. Hmm! It was heavy alright. It was filled with several huge plastic flowers, which probably weighed a total of two pounds! As God reeled me in, she shared her joy and obligations as a consecrated religious, and suggested that I should give it a try. I am not married and I am still single and available, so why not?  She explained to me that if it is not the vocation God is calling me to then I can still leave and get married. She ended her sharing with, “Just give God a chance...” 

So the following year, I went to the sisters’ “Come and See” and spent a week with them. Honestly, it was the best free one-week vacation ever!! I was in awe with the presence of the sisters; I was touched by the joy and love for God that radiated from them. It particularly showed through their concern for each other and for each one of us. Finally, as I prepared for the celebration of the sacrament of Reconciliation during the day of the silent retreat I came face to face with my state of sinfulness. I was like one of the many fish that swam in the sea contaminated with crude oil: suffocated and hopeless. Before confession, each person received a letter from God. God wrote a lot of beautiful things, but there was one line that pierced right to my heart: “There is no sin that is bigger than my love for you…” THAT WAS IT!! Torrents of tears cascaded down my cheeks, the chains upon my heart broke loose and it seemed as though God could no longer hold back time and immediately flooded my heart with His unconditional love.  My heart now sings “amazing grace” and I am more than certain of God’s personal love for me! I was wrong for thinking He was always out to get me. Instead, God rescued me and He loves me. From then, I experienced a deep sense of peace and joy that I have never experienced before.  I fell for the bait and now I am more alive than ever because He is the Living Water. I am now the fish that swims in His ocean of love. 

Sr. Marie Frassatti Tracy Phoi Nguyễn, OP has been a religious professed sister since July 2016.