Worthy Grand Knight and Brother Knights,

Other than your own ancestors, would you search for any individual to learn their lineage? How about to learn your lineage connection to someone more than 2000 years old? We cannot search for the ancestry of Adam or Eve because, well that answer is obvious. However, between Adam and Eve and now, there are loads of people I would want to check for their parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters. And to see if they are related to me.

I never would have added St. Simeon to that list until today. In St. Matthew's Gospel, we read of St. Simeon who is described in the gospel as one of Jesus' brethren.

Simeon's Family Connection

St. Simeon's father was Cleophas, St. Joseph's brother. That is interesting. St. Simeon's mother was our Blessed Mother's sister. That would make Simeon Jesus' first cousin. Simeon was supposed to be about eight years older than Jesus.

I think back to the many years I spent with my cousins and the fun we had. Playing baseball, soccer and sharing Christmas dinners together. Did Jesus and Simeon ever interact as family members when they were younger?

No doubt Simeon is one of those brethren of Jesus who are mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as having received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. St. Epiphanius says that when the Jews massacred St. James the Lesser, his brother Simeon scolded them for their cruelty. That makes St. James the Lesser a cousin of Jesus.

James the Lesser is also a figure of early Christianity. He is the Lesser to distinguish him from the Apostle James the Great, with "Lesser" meaning younger rather than less important.

He is identified by Jerome as the same person also called James, brother of Jesus in the Bible, thought of by Jerome and others as really a cousin of Jesus.

Bishop of Jerusalem

The apostles and disciples afterwards met together to appoint a successor to James as bishop of Jerusalem, and they unanimously chose Simeon, who had assisted his brother in the government of that church. In the year 66 civil war broke out in Palestine, as a consequence of Jewish opposition to the Romans. The Christians in Jerusalem were warned of the impending destruction of the city and appear to have been divinely ordered to leave it. Accordingly that same year, before Vespasian entered Judaea, they retired with St. Simeon at their head to the other side of the Jordan, occupying a small city called Pella. Vespasian was the Roman emperor from 69 to 79 and he lead the suppression of the Jews during the Jewish rebellion. After the capture and burning of Jerusalem, the Christians returned and settled among the ruins until the Emperor Hadrian afterwards entirely razed it. Hadrian was the Roman emperor from 117 to 138. Hadrian renamed Judea province Syria Palaestina. He renamed Jerusalem Aelia Capitolina after himself and Jupiter Capitolinus and had the city rebuilt in Greek style.

We are told by St. Epiphanius and by Eusebius that the church here flourished greatly, and that many Jews were converted by the miracles wrought by the saints. When Vespasian and Domitian had ordered the destruction of all who were of the race of David, St. Simeon had escaped their search; but when Trajan gave a similar injunction, he was denounced as being not only one of David's descendants, but also a Christian, and he was brought before Atticus, the Roman governor. He was condemned to death and, after being tortured, was crucified. Although he was extremely old - tradition reports him to have attained the age of 120 - Simeon endured his sufferings with such fortitude that it gained the admiration of Atticus himself. His feast day is February 18, next Wednesday.

Another Simeon

There was another Simeon mentioned in the Bible. Simeon is primarily introduced in the Gospel of Luke (2:25-35), where he is described as a righteous and devout man. His life was marked by a deep faith and a yearning for the coming of the Lord's Messiah. His story takes place during a pivotal moment in biblical history when Jesus, as a baby, was presented at the temple. This Simeon is thought to be 130 years old when he saw Jesus.

According to St. Luke, Simeon was living in Jerusalem, and he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. This phrase highlights Simeon's hope and expectation. For many Jews, this consolation meant freedom and redemption from oppression. His righteous character indicates that he lived according to God's laws and maintained a spiritual life that deeply aligned with his beliefs. When the time came for Mary and Joseph to bring Jesus to the temple for the purification rites, Simeon was led by the Holy Spirit to come to the temple. As they entered, Simeon saw the child Jesus and immediately recognized Him as the promised Messiah.

Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God, expressing his joy and gratitude. His words, known as the Nunc Dimittis that translates to Now Depart. This is the canticle of St. Simeon.

Final Reflection

The two Simeons are two distinct people. One could have been a regular visitor with Jesus' family. The other was over 100 years older than Jesus.

The next time you contact Ancestry.com, ask them to go back 2,000 years in their search. You may be surprised to know your relatives.