Welcome back to the Jesse Tree on the Catholic Sprouts podcast. Today is Thursday of the second week of Advent.

The Bible tells the story of six important judges in the Israelite history. Samson was the final judge before kings began to rule Israel.

Samson had a remarkable life. Before he was born,

his parents had struggled to conceive a child. And when Samson was finally born, he was set apart for service to God. He lived as a Nazarite, a life detailed in the book of numbers. Nazarites

refrained from impurity, they did not drink alcohol, and they never cut their hair. But that does not mean

that this long-haired judge was without fault. Far from it.

Listen now to the story of Samson,

the final judge of Israel,

found in the book of judges.

Judges 16, 23 through 30.

Now the lords of the Philistines

gathered to offer a great sacrifice

to their God Dagon,

and to rejoice,

for they said, Our God has given Samson our enemy into our hand. When the people saw him,

they praised their God, for they said, Our God has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us. And when their hearts were merry, they said, call Samson and let him

entertain us. So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them. They made him stand

between the pillars, and Samson said to the attendant, who held him by the hand, let me fill the pillars on

which the house rest, so that I may lean against them. Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the

Philistines were there, and on the roof there was about 3,000 men and women who looked on while

Samson performed. Then Samson called to the Lord and said, Lord God, remember me and strengthen me

only this once, O God, so that with this one act of revenge,

...