As you read through the story of Samson, you might miss something that is quite profound. It’s easy to miss because there are so many fascinating details to this story, but when we see it, we can’t help but see how telling it is. Samson does pretty much everything on his own. Unlike the other judges before him, Samson does not form an army or partner with anyone else. He goes at it alone, at least as other people are concerned: He isn’t opposed to partnering with 3,000 foxes.

Seeing this affirms Samson’s greatest weakness: pride. It seems that the mighty Samson believed he didn’t need anyone else. He could take care of things himself. Why turn to others? They would probably just mess things up anyway.

But as part of the Church, the Bride of Christ, let us be quick to see the folly of Samson’s solitary lifestyle. We know that God did not create us for isolation, rather for integration. We are to live fully integrated with others, relying on their strengths where we are weak and lending them our strength where they are weak. And that is what Samson missed: His strength was limited. He had weaknesses and needed others. May we be a humble people who do not share in his mistake.

How might you be prone to drift toward isolation at times? Why?