Genesis 8

he Eleventh and final Tablet of the Epic of Gilgamesh contains the account of Utnapishtim, which is very similar to the Noah account though distorted with polytheism and pride. It can be found here. In comparing the accounts, I do not believe like some that ancient Judaism and Catholicism are just two religions among many, or that the Utnapishtim myth demonstrates that the Bible is just a load of false myths. Rather, I believe that either the events really occurred, and the Bible tells a literally accurate story, as would seem to be the case based on archaeological evidence of a large ark they have found near Mt. Ararat; or the Jews took the Babylonian myth, itself a half-remembered story from their ancestors, and used it as the vehicle to tell the truth about the living God: God always keeps his promises, he has complete control over all of nature, and he will protect his chosen people.

I also find it interesting that the dove seems to be more central to the Bible story than in the Gilgamesh epic in which a dove, raven and swallow are released. Like in the Gilgamesh epic, the raven is released and does not come back to Noah. But in the Gilgamesh epic, the raven is released last, with the dove and a swallow having been released, but forced to return since they can find nowhere to live elsewhere.

The Genesis story is more interesting because although the raven is sent out first (presumably when the flood waters are higher) it does not return, but the dove does return to Noah, since it cannot find a place to rest. The second time it returns to Noah with an olive branch, and being sent out a third time, the dove does not return, but remains on the Earth.

Mystically, I think we may understand  that the dove represents the Holy Spirit, and the three primary stages of Salvation History.

In the first phase, God sent out the Holy Spirit to the Jewish people, by giving them the Law of Moses, the prophets and all of the salvific events of the Old Testament. But the Jews failed to keep the covenant and rejected God's Spirit. Thus the dove flies back to God, represented by Noah.

The second time, the dove returns to Noah with an olive leaf. In the ancient world, we know that Olives represented royalty (Kings were anointed with olive oil.), peace and victory. This second sending of the Holy Spirit represents the Incarnation of Christ, accomplished by the Holy Spirit's overshadowing of the Virgin Mary. Through this event, God would accomplish peace for his people, victory against sin and the devil, and the divine kingship of Jesus Christ, confirmed at the Crucifixion, "Jesus King of the Jews."

Finally, Jesus told the disciples that he had to leave them so that the Spirit could come down. When Noah sends the Spirit the third time, it does not come back, but remains upon the Earth. Similarly the Holy Spirit remains in the hearts of those who are Baptized and in a state of Grace, not having committed mortal sin. The Sacraments keep the Spirit blazing in our souls, representing God's gift of spiritual Life that has returned to counteract the death that drowned the world through human sin.