SIMON. – Two Gospel figures who invited Jesus to a meal, wrongly identified by some.
1. SIMON “the Pharisee” invited Jesus to a meal (Lk 7:36–50) when the anonymous “sinner,” identified by many with Mary Magdalene (q.v.), entered the dining hall and poured a flask of perfume on the Lord’s feet. The welcome he had given Jesus had not been very courteous (vv. 44–46). To Simon’s scandal at the woman’s gesture, Jesus replied with the parable of the creditor and the two debtors and drew the conclusion from it himself (vv. 39–43). Because of the analogy with the episode at Bethany (Mt 26:6 ff.; Mk 14:3 ff.; cf. Jn 12:2 ff.), SIMON the Pharisee has sometimes been confused (even in the antiphon of the First Vespers of St Mary Magdalene, Roman Breviary, 22 July) with SIMON the Leper.
2. SIMON “the Leper” welcomed Jesus into his house and offered him a meal on the day before the solemn entry into Jerusalem (Mt 26:6 ff.; Mk 14:3 ff.); on that occasion Mary, the sister of Lazarus (cf. Jn 12:2 ff.), poured a pound of pure nard on Jesus’ feet, provoking the resentment of Judas Iscariot. As is clear from the surname, SIMON had been afflicted with leprosy and then healed (probably by Jesus) Gaetano Stano.
