February 18, 2022
Simon is talked about in Sacred Scripture and has been recognized as one of many “brothers of the Lord.” In fact, Simon was not a buddy of Jesus, however as a result of the Aramaic and Hebrew language doesn’t have a phrase for an in depth relative akin to cousin, the phrase brother is commonly used. St. Simon was apparently a cousin of our Lord. Scripture tells us that his father was Cleophas, the brother of St. Joseph, and that his mom was the sister (or definitely the sister-in-law) of the Blessed Mom. This could make Simon the primary cousin of Jesus. Simon’s brother, referred to as James the Much less, was bishop of Jerusalem, and when he was martyred the Apostles met collectively and selected Simon to take his brother’s workplace of Bishop.
Civil conflict broke out within the 12 months 66 and the Christians, believed to have been forewarned by our Lord (Mt 24:16), fled from Jerusalem. Most went with Simon to the opposite facet of the Jordan and settled in a small metropolis referred to as Pella. Later, after Jerusalem had been burned, the Christians returned and dwelt among the many ruins till Emperor Hadrian fully razed town. In keeping with the writings of Eusebius, the Church historian, there have been nice miracles being carried out by the saints throughout this time and lots of Jews have been changing to Christianity due to these miracles. The Church was flourishing amidst the persecutions.
Simon was in a position to keep away from being arrested when the Roman rulers and persecutors, Vespasian and Domitian, ordered the destruction of all who have been of the race of David. Nonetheless, when Trajan later gave the same injunction, Simon was not solely denounced as being one among David’s descendants, but additionally a Christian. He was dropped at the Roman Governor, Atticus, and sentenced to dying. Right now, Simon was extraordinarily previous, having lived to be 120 years previous. Though he was so aged, the persecutors nonetheless tortured him earlier than crucifying him.
Classes
There’s a lot confusion concerning the “brothers of the Lord.” Catholic Custom teaches that our Lord had no blood brothers and our Blessed Mom had no different kids apart from Jesus. A cautious studying of Scripture will present that those self same “brothers” are additionally talked about in different areas of the Bible as being both the son of one other man (apart from Joseph) or of a lady named Mary, spouse of Cleophas, and never the Virgin Mary. For additional info on this matter, please consult with the ebook, Catholicism and Fundamentalism by Karl Keating.
Prayer
Expensive Lord Jesus, we all know that You aren’t solely our Creator, Savior and God, but additionally our brother. On this respect, like Simon, we’re all of your brothers and sisters. We thanks, our Savior, for making us a part of Your loved ones and we pray that we’ll all the time stay within the Physique of Christ. Amen.
Different Saints We Keep in mind Immediately
- St. Bernadette Soubirous (1879), Virgin, Saint of Lourdes
- St. Flavian (449), Bishop, Patriarch, Martyr
picture: Menologion of Basil 036 / Nameless/Unknown creator, Public area, by way of Wikimedia Commons
