Still a Leper?

Pat McCloskey, OFM, suggests that the nickname Simon the leper may have persisted even if his skin condition had ended.

While the texts describe Jesus eating at the home of Simon the leper during the anointing with perfumed oil, it is not clear if Jesus cured him. In biblical times, leprosy referred to various skin disorders rather than the specific bacteriological condition known today as Hansen’s disease. Because some of these ancient skin conditions could be cured, priests were responsible for declaring individuals free of the disease so they could rejoin society.

McCloskey notes that when Jesus cured 10 lepers, he told them to show themselves to the priests. It remains unclear if Simon was still suffering from a disease while hosting the dinner or if the name was simply a lingering identifier.