Noah, God and me

While hearing Genesis 8: 1-12 proclaimed at Mass, I felt Noah’s gentle hand on my heart.
Noah opened the hatch of the ark at the end of 40 days during the great flood. He first
released a raven that “flew back and forth until the waters dried off from the Earth.” It’s
unclear if the raven stayed away or returned. Then a dove was released, and she
returned to the ark, as there was no place to perch. Noah put out his hand “caught the
dove and drew her back to him inside the ark.” Later, Noah again released the dove,
who returned with a plucked-off olive leaf in her bill. Noah waited another 7 days, and
again released the dove, and this time she did not come back.

How gentle is our God!
Noah released the dove, entrusting her to go forth, and return to tell him the condition of the Earth. Is it safe to go out? She returned, since there was nowhere to perch.

As God does for us, Noah stretched out his hand to take hold of the dove, when she was tired of flying, and could not find where to land! He drew her back to him, home.

Waiting another 7 days God released me again. God had confidence that I would be able to let the ark-bound residents know the condition of the land. I returned with an olive leaf I had found! The water was subsiding.

In wisdom, Noah waited again before releasing the dove. This time, even though I knew that I could return to the safe embrace of God’s hand, I found a safe place to land in my natural environment.

We go forth from the comfort of security and pursue our mission, encouraging others to resume life after hardship, to honor God in the natural kingdom given to us. With the memory of God’s gentle hand holding us and God’s confident calling to leave, we can comfortably go forth to live as God challenges us, knowing the security of God’s enduring trust and love.