Chapter XIX.
Why is it said that the dove returned in the evening with an olive branch in its beak? Also, how did Noah know that the waters had subsided? Finally, why did the same dove, when released on the seventh day, not return?
67. Therefore, the dove returned in the evening, holding a leaf of olive, and a branch in her mouth (Gen. VIII, 11). It is not without purpose that it mentions the evening, the return, the holding of the olive leaf, and the branch in her mouth, so that you may not think that she set out on a future journey without any power if she could acquire any; nor again, that you may understand her to have been hidden in some darkness, but rather that she waited shining in the light of day until the setting of the sun, and thus returned to Him with whom she could not even have darkness in the evening. He also brought with him a small leaf, although it may seem insignificant to have brought that leaf, it still indicated some hope for those whose mistake he regretted, albeit not great. For a leaf cannot exist without its stem. Therefore, like a sign of growing correction, although not a great one, he carried a distinguishing feature and a leaf of an olive tree, in which the olive is produced, from which oil is made, by which this light is supported, and the darkness is driven away. But what is more familiar to virtue than light? Therefore, a leaf and a branch are emblematic of correction; and correction, like its root, has repentance as its counterpart, which repentance cannot germinate in turbulent souls, but in those who have already received the spiritual word. Also, a branch of an olive tree seems to be brought in vain to the mouth, because virtue and wisdom have their brightness in their words, and the light of them immediately shines forth, especially when speaking peacefully; for those seeking peace have been accustomed to prefer this branch as well. He took a branch, because simplicity infuses into our ears certain seeds of usefulness with purity and sincerity: and it both incites to the practice of good doctrine and urges toward the reward of good discipline, or imposes the desire to engage in repentance and pursue a virtuous life on the sinner.
68. Therefore, it seems worthy of consideration how the holy Noah could have known, as it is written, that water would be lacking from the earth. First of all, according to the literal sense, he could have understood whether a dry or wet leaf were brought. Then, because a dove is not of such a nature as to be able to extract hidden fruits from underwater. However, whether that leaf sprouted before the flood or during the flood is for you to consider. If, before the flood, a righteous man rejoiced in the fruit of an ancient seed preserved, and from it gathered a remarkable sign of divine mercy, which the flood had already removed, showing that it could not harm the fruit. If, during the time of the flood, a leaf was born, the righteous man surely observed that new seeds of heavenly mercy had borne fruit, so that the roots of the trees would live, and the offspring would bear their old forms, and return to their usual births, as indicated by the preceding leaves.
69. But this he gathered from a deeper interpretation, because our Lord God, although offended by the bitter errors of our wickedness, nevertheless preserved for us some small seed of our ancient lineage and the virtue of our homeland, so that his work and creation would not be completely destroyed around the human race. Therefore, Isaiah also says: 'Unless the Lord Almighty had left us some seed, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah' (Isaiah 1:9), expressing the sign of blindness in the name of one city and the barrenness of another. For in the native language of the Chaldeans, they called Sodom and Gomorrah, signifying blindness and sterility. And rightly so, the Lord cut off in the form of these cities, not judging them as men to be punished, but as human vices to be removed.
70. On the third day the dove is released, and it does not return. Therefore, let us consider that what we have said above may not be found to be contrary. If indeed in word the dove, but in deed virtue does not return to the just one; therefore, is the just one abandoned and deprived of his gift? By no means. For such a man is never separated from virtue, nor does he, when he breathes out justice from his mouth, introduce a discussion of another virtue, strip himself of virtue, and strip others of equality to be imitated; but, instead, he illuminates others with the light of his own radiance. Fire indeed warms those who approach it, so that it possesses the heat of its own nature. Does the light of day fail, when it illuminates the whole world with its brightness? It has its harmless course, and its untouched nature. Thus also in the species of a dove, the virtue, while the flood still raged, turned back to justice according to the bird, according to the virtue of inhuman passions; because virtue could not cling in the hearts of the unjust, it was unable to find them. And therefore, returning to that second inn, he lingers and rests. But when the floods of passions have subsided, and many have been eager to become companions of the heard word and the established teaching, the discipline of virtue begins to be not the inheritance of one person, but the common good, and it is drunk like a cup of wisdom by many who before did not wish to drink as though thirsty, just as now the floods burn in the hearts of the Jews; and when the water of heavenly teaching overflows, and the drink flows abundantly, they do not think it is something to drink. The Gospel is read, power comes forth from the heavenly word, the Priest discusses in the Church. But lest perhaps, shut up within the ark, he alone may not be able to be heard, sometimes he goes outside the Church, where a Jew may encounter him, he warns, he offers an example from the heavenly Scriptures. They close their ears, lest an unwilling person may be washed away by the fountain, and lest the rough liquid of the Lord's word may sprinkle. But if anyone believes, they run to the fountain, they seek out teaching, they desire to have the Gospel insinuated to themselves, and they are not satisfied with the constant drinking. They eagerly desire to be filled with the source of wisdom, which they were previously trying to escape. Which source? Listen to the one who says: 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture says, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' (John 7:37-38).