The Flood in Genesis chapters 6-8 happened because God saw that “human wickedness was great on the earth, and that human hearts contrived nothing but wicked schemes all day long” (6:5).

This “grieved” God’s heart (6:6). Only Noah and his 7 family members, together with the pairs of living creatures, escaped the 40-day Flood because Noah was a “good man, an upright man … and he walked with God” (6:9).

The Genesis reading for today speaks about ‘fresh beginnings’. God blessed Noah and his sons to “Be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth” (v 1). It continues with the assurance that they would have power over all living things and that food would be provided for them (vv 2-3). And then God’s Covenant (promise) is followed that “nothing of flesh shall be swept away again by the waters of the flood. There shall be no flood to destroy the earth again” (v 11). To this day, the rainbow is the “sign” of this Covenant God made with humanity (v 13).

In this new year, what ‘fresh beginnings’ do you discern God is nudging you towards? Why not take Noah as your inspiration to be ‘good … upright … and walk with God’? St. Mother Teresa once said, “My progress in holiness depends on God and myself: on God’s grace and my will”.