Samson and the Value of Suffering

SAMSON AND THE VALUE OF SUFFERING

Cl. Mario D’Couto SDB

            The philosopher, Jean Vieujian, makes a beautiful statement with regard to suffering. He says, “There is much in us, but it often takes some obstacle, accidents, opposition, hardship or even suffering to reveal it to us.” This is to say that the more we love the divine will, even when it is difficult, the less we need miraculous signs and the more God becomes light, near present. On the contrary, the less we speak to transform our hearts and live by the Spirit of God, the more we need miracles.
           
            The story of Samson from the Holy Bible beautifully portrays this aspect. As we all know, the story of Samson speaks about how he was known for his strength, how he defeated the Philistines, his downfall, repentance and how he comes back to God where he finally defeats all the Philistines again for good.

            Samson was a Nazarene, a person who was dedicated to God from birth. He is blessed with the strength of more than a hundred strong men. But because of his unfaithfulness to God, he loses his strength. After his capture by the Philistines, he grievously suffers and finally repents of his disloyalty to God. His strength is restored and when he is brought to the feast, proclaimed as a day of thanksgiving by the Philistines for their deliverance from Samson’s hands, he destroys the place of feasting and also himself. Thus, he gives his life to rid his people of their enemies, the Philistines.

            The suffering that he went through when he was captured by the Philistines leads him to realize his vulnerability. He recalls his proud display of herculean strength in the face of his present weakness and confronted with his insufficiency, he accepts his creatureliness. He admits that he is guilty before God and man and that he has been disloyal to both.

            In admitting his guilt Samson is rewarded moral insight. Samson knew that the cause of suffering is not God but rather his own unfaithfulness to that which is most truly himself. In selfishly refusing to listen to and follow the deeper call of life, he has distorted and disregarded the reality within that summons him. Though Samson himself cannot advance towards God, divine justice can advance towards him.

            Through his repentance, Samson is brought to a kind of calm resignation. This resignation does not mean that he no longer suffers. Rather, in discerning through his suffering the truth about himself, he seeks God’s friendship in his mercy. He now has hope and sees purpose in his suffering and hence actually suffers less. He proves his willingness to be faithful to God by embracing his suffering and allowing it to purify him.


            Thus, Samson is born again through the reflection inwardness initiated by suffering. His deeper penetration of life led him to wisdom and greater spiritual maturity. Through his utter aloneness, through his having been thrown back on his own resources, he slowly turns to God and was then able to surrender expectantly to his destiny. For Samson, “weakness” evidenced in his suffering proved to be true spiritual strength, by which he was able to accomplish his original task and to save his people. Paradoxically, it served him better than intelligence or even virtue. 

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