THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
The words we are reflecting on unveil the profound and indescribable love, as well as the immense goodness, that God demonstrates not only towards humanity but also towards all creatures. As the Creator of everything, He bestows His kindness on all His creations, illustrating in various ways the depth of His concern for humankind and emphasizing that from the very beginning, all actions have been directed toward our salvation. Whether He disciplines or corrects, both actions stem from the same divine goodness. His punishments are not motivated by wrath or passion, but rather by a desire to prevent wrongdoing from spreading. For instance, the flood was not brought forth without reason; it emerged from His concern for those engulfed in profound wickedness.
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Therefore, when considering all who perished in the waters, let us not speak hastily. Rather, with a humble spirit, let us accept the Lord's actions, and in doing so, we may come to understand the depth of His care even in such harsh circumstances. To correct unrepentant sinners—those who daily wound themselves and render their suffering incurable—does this not manifest the utmost concern? The manner of punishment itself is filled with compassion; for even those who have been condemned to death face it with such ease that they experience no torment: what a reflection of wisdom and benevolence this is!
Furthermore, if we contemplate the aftermath of the flood, we recognize that it was not only beneficial for those who were punished but also brought two remarkable advantages to future generations: it served as a deterrent against the same transgressions and provided an instructive example. What gratitude we owe to God for ensuring that descendants are educated by the fate of those who suffered, leading to the nullification of the influences of sin and vice, leaving no teacher of wickedness for them! Do you see how even the very punishments God administers are more than mere penalties, revealing His deep care for humanity? Anyone who traces this theme from the dawn of time will discover that God has always imposed punishments on wrongdoers for this purpose.
To grasp the magnitude of His love as highlighted in today's readings, let us consider the sacred Scriptures. Yesterday, the revered Moses relayed, "the waters increased on the earth a hundred and fifty days" (Gen. 7:24); our exploration paused at that statement. Today he states: "And God remembered Noah, and all the beasts, and all the cattle, and all the fowls, and all the creeping things that were with him in the ark: and God brought a wind upon the earth, and the waters stopped." Notice here the tenderness of the divine message! When it says, "And God remembered," let us interpret this with reverence, mindful of our limitations rather than relying on a superficial understanding. This term "remembered" may seem inappropriate when attributed to God, but it is suitably applied in consideration of our human frailty.
The phrase "remembered" refers to God’s mercy towards Noah, who resided in the ark amid dire and trying circumstances, uncertain of how his plight would ultimately resolve. Reflect on Noah's thoughts after enduring forty days and nights of relentless rain and seeing the waters rise above the mountains for one hundred and fifty days without receding. He could not even see the devastation with his own eyes; confined within the ark, this limitation compounded his sorrow and his fears of even greater calamities. It’s remarkable that he did not succumb to despair, burdened by the ruin of humanity and his solitude in such harsh conditions. Yet his unwavering faith in God sustained him, allowing him to endure all trials with contentment and to feel no distress, supported by hope.
Thus, acknowledging Noah’s profound faith, courage, and patience, we see the extent of God’s love for him. The Scriptures’ choice of the term "remembered" is most fitting; it echoes God’s acknowledgment of Noah’s righteousness, as previously noted when He commanded him to enter the ark, declaring, "for thou hast I seen righteous before Me in this generation" (Gen. 7:1). Now, saying "and God remembered Noah" signifies that He recalled His own testimony regarding Noah, ensuring that the righteous man would not remain neglected for too long, but rather that relief would come in due time. Just as the Lord, in His mercy, allows trials to last only as long as we can bear, He supports us with appropriate rewards for our endurance. As Paul teaches, "Faithful is God, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength, but will also give you relief when you are tempted, so that you may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Now, as the divine message continues to unfold, we see that God's remembrance extends not only to Noah but also to "all the beasts, and all the cattle, and all the fowls, and all the creeping things, which were with him in the ark." This illustrates how He honors humanity: as those bearing the weight of the flood were lost, so were the voiceless creatures they had taken with them. Yet, now, desiring to show His love for Noah, He favors the very animals that shared his fate. Thus, we read, "And God remembered Noah, and all the beasts, and all the cattle, and all the creeping things that creep with him in the ark, and God brought a wind upon the earth, and the waters were stopped." With this act of remembrance, God commanded the waters to recede, gradually revealing His compassion, allowing the righteous man to find relief from turmoil and to once again witness the light and breathe the air. "And God brought a wind upon the earth," the text emphasizes, "and the waters stopped."