Arria and Simeon of Ghergesa
Inhabitants of Gherghesa. Simeon is a violent husband and fraudster. Arria is a woman of the gentile people, who became an Israelite through love.
Jesus has the opportunity to heal Simeon for the first time.[1]
Unfortunately, he does not convert and, following a brawl, finds himself injured again."You… cure… She, as You can see, is in despair… She has many children, and they are still young. The blindness of her husband would mean poverty for the family…"[2]
"I cured him once and I said to him: 'Sin no more'. He has sinned even more. Had he perhaps not promised that he would not sin any more? Had he not vowed that he would no longer be a usurer and thief, if I cured him, that where possible, he would give back what he had usurped, and where it was not possible he would use it for the poor?"[2]
"Woman, do not weep. Listen to Me and be just, because you have chosen the religion of Justice. If I proposed two alternatives to you, which one would you choose? Here they are: that I should cure your husband and let him live so that he may continue to mock God and pile up sins on his soul, or I should convert him, forgive him and then let him die? Make your choice. I will do whatever you decide."[3]Simeon, for his part, recovers:
"Not to die now! Hell!… I have stolen, I have stolen the money of poor people! I have lied. I hit my neighbour and I have made my relative suffer. Oh!… [...] Forgive me! Forgive me! Expiation here, yes, here… Also blindness, Lord… But Hell no… Do not let God curse me! Lord! You expel demons and forgive sins. Do not raise Your hand to cure me, but to forgive me and free me from the demon possessing me…"[4]Jesus will satisfy him, granting him peace, but will not heal him, also according to Arria's choice.[5]
His name
Arria: unknown origin Simeon, like Simon (Chimon- Shim'ôn), means "he who hears". Historical reference: the second son of Jacob who was held hostage by his brother Joseph, who became Pharaoh’s steward.
Where is he mentioned in the work?
GRM 159 GRM 458