Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/245

 types of  our  Lord. St. Augustine  says  of  Samson:  “He  acted  like  a strong  man,  and  suffered  like  a weak  man. I see in  him  both  the strength of  the  Son  of  God  and  the  weakness  of  man. In those  great and wonderful  things  which  he  did  he  was  a type  of  Christ.”  His  birth was announced  by  an  angel: so  also  was  the  Birth  of  Jesus  Christ. He overcame a lion: Jesus  Christ  has  overcome  the  infernal  lion. He fought and conquered,  all  alone,  and  with  an  ignoble  weapon:  Jesus  Christ fought and  conquered,  all  alone,  by  the  despised  Cross. He was  betrayed for money,  was  given  up  to  the  enemy  by  the  men  of  his  own  tribe, and was  bound  and  mocked:  thus  was  it  with  Jesus. Samson gave  his life for  his  people,  doing  his  enemy  much  injury  by  his  death:  Jesus offered Himself  up  of  His  own  will,  and  by  His  death  overcame  sin and Satan. Samson lifted  up  and  carried  away  the  gates  and  bolts  of Gaza: Jesus  Christ,  by  His  resurrection,  threw  open  the  gates  and  burst asunder the  bolts  of  the  grave.

Consequences of  mortal  sin.  Samson,  from  his  youth  up,  led  an  austere life, consecrated  to  God. He was  a soldier  of  God,  a hero  of  the  faith, and a saviour  of  his  people,  as  long  as  he  remained  true  to  his  holy state and  corresponded  with  grace;  but  when  he  formed  a friendship with a heathen  woman,  and  by  so  doing  forsook  God,  he  in  his  turn was forsaken  by  God,  and  fell  into  the  hands  of  his  enemies,  who oppressed and  degraded  him,  and  made  him  a slave. Thus it  is  with those Christians,  consecrated  to  God  by  Baptism,  who  yet  obey  their sinful passions  and  separate  themselves  from  God  by  mortal  sin. There falls on  them  the  sleep  of  spiritual  sloth,  they  are  bound  with  the  bonds of sin,  they  lose  all  their  strength,  i.  e.  the  grace  of  God,  they  become spiritually blind,  and  fall  into  the  slavery  of  sin  and  bad  habits.

I dare say  you  think  it  horrible  and  inconceivable  that  the  Israelites,  in  spite  of  all  God’s  benefits,  visitations and warnings,  should  have  proved  faithless  to  Him  and  have broken the  covenant  sealed  with  Him! But give  a glance  at your  own  life. Have you  never  been  faithless  to  God? Have you never  fallen  back  into  your  former  sins? Have you  always kept the  promises  you  made  to  God,  and  acted  up  to  your  resolutions? You will  often  fall  from  weakness,  but  try  not  to offend  wilfully  and  intentionally.

In your  Confirmation  you  were  consecrated  and  fortified  to be  a soldier  of  Christ. You must  therefore  fight  courageously against the  enemies  of  your  salvation. Practise self-control,  and pray humbly  for  God’s  help,  and  you  will  conquer  them.

Let Samson’s  story  teach  you  this:  “He  that  thinketh  himself to  stand,  let  him  take  heed  lest  he  fall”  (i  Cor.  10,  12).