Today’s first reading is part of the story of Samson, one of the Judges of Israel in the time before the kings of Israel were established. The account is part of the birth narrative of the last of the Judges, perhaps well described as an “annunciation.” It stands in comparison (or contrast) with today’s gospel, the annunciation of the birth of John the Baptist, the last of the Old Testament prophets. There have been some writers that hold Samson to be a messianic figure, but today’s reading set seems to compare Samson, not to the Messiah, but to the herald. Granted there are similarities in the accounts, but apart from the stories of notable strength, Samson is not someone upon whom one should model their life. Read the story of Samson and you’ll find he murders 30 men for their garments because he lost a wager. Not exactly your model citizen. Still, the narratives share some notable similarities but also some differences. Perhaps a comparison will reveal a larger purpose at hand.
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