Simon of Cana
He is the young bridegroom of the wedding at Cana.[1] His wife, Susanna, falls gravely ill: her illness leads her to a slow death amid great suffering. Simon implores Jesus for her healing, which He grants. The life of the couple is transformed as a result: Susanna will follow Jesus as the Gospel reports,[2] and Simon will have her at his side to guide him along the paths of Jesus.
He is assumed to be the brother of Salome, the wife of Simon of Alphaeus, one of the four cousins of Jesus. It would therefore be at the wedding of his cousin by marriage that Jesus attends, accompanied by the first disciples, his mother and Mary of Clopas, his aunt.
His Story[edit | edit source]
Their wedding took place in March 27. Susanna's illness declared itself very quickly. In January 28, Simon implored Jesus:"Lord, I love Susanna. And so far I have loved her more as a body than as a soul. But after Your teaching, something is already changed in me and I look at my wife as a soul besides as a body. A soul belongs to God and You are the Messiah, the Son of God. I cannot deny Your right on what belongs to God. If Susanna wants to follow You, I will not oppose her. I only beg You to work the miracle that will cure her body and my feelings…"[3]Jesus then confirms to him that Susanna is healed and that she will come to tell him of her joy along with her desire to become a disciple. Simon consents:
"Susanna belongs to You, Lord. She was to die a very painful slow death. And once she was dead, I would have lost her forever in this world. But as You say, I will still have her beside me, to lead me on to Your way.[4] God gave me her, and God is taking her away from me. Blessed be the Most High in giving and in taking."[3]He is found among the disciples, at his wife's side.[5]
His Name[edit | edit source]
Simon (סיימון), like Simeon (Chimon, Shim'ôn), means "he who hears." Historical reference: the second son of Jacob, who was held as a hostage by his brother Joseph, who had become steward of Pharaoh.[6]
Where He Is Mentioned in the Work[edit | edit source]
GRM 52.3 GRM 614.10.
Further Information on This Character[edit | edit source]
Historical sources, like exegesis, are silent on the identity of the young bridegroom of Cana.
Notes and References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ John 2:1-11.
- ↑ Known from the Gospels. Luke 8:3 identifies her as a woman disciple.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 GRM 151.3.
- ↑ In GRM 196.4, Jesus situates conjugal love: "There is love for one's companion. It is a love of the third power because it is made by halves [...] the woman, for her husband, is an angel and a mother, in addition to being a wife."
- ↑ GRM 490.2 | GRM 614.10.
- ↑ Hebrew alphabet on croixsens.net