May 11, 2004

[Rev. Doc]

Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."

What would we be willing to do to be known as a peacemaker. Many down through the centuries have been willing to give their lives and in doing so have demonstrated to power of the Prince of Peace to calm a troubled world.

Telemachus was a monk who lived in the 4th century. He felt God saying to him, "Go to Rome." He was in a cloistered monastery. He put his possessions in a sack and set out for Rome. When he arrived in the city, people were thronging in the streets. He asked why all the excitement and was told that this was the day that the gladiators would be fighting and killing each other in the coliseum, the day of the games, the circus. He thought to himself, "Four centuries after Christ and they are still killing each other, for enjoyment?" He ran to the coliseum and heard the gladiators saying, "Hail to Ceasar, we die for Ceasar" and he thought, "this isn't right." He jumped over the railing and went out into the middle of the field, got between two gladiators, held up his hands and said "In the name of Christ, forbear." The crowd protested and began to shout, "Run him through, Run him through." A gladiator came over and hit him in the stomach with the back of his sword. It sent him sprawling in the sand. He got up and ran back and again said, "In the name of Christ, forbear." The crowd continued to chant, "Run him through." One gladiator came over and plunged his sword through the little monk's stomach and he fell into the sand, which began to turn crimson with his blood. One last time he gasped out, "In the name of Christ forbear." A hush came over the 80,000 people in the coliseum. Soon a man stood and left, then another and more, and within minutes all 80,000 had emptied out of the arena. It was the last known gladiatorial contest in the history of Rome.

Prayer: Ask God to help you be an agent of peace in a world filled with upheaval.

"Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all." ~ George Washington

[wiggins]

Thanks Rev_doc! That's an awesome story. It is true right?

[Master Kenzo]

Whoa...thas pretty freaky, but really interesting. Sometimes its not such a global scale, sometimes even in our own homes there is war.

[Rev. Doc]

Thanks Rev_doc! That's an awesome story. It is true right?

Yes, Telemachus was in fact a real individual. However, his death did not occur exactly as this illustration points out. In order to be accurate, let me share with you from the writtings of Theodoret:

The true story is found in the writings of Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus (393-457 A.D.). Theodoret's Ecclesiastical History covers the period of time up until 429 A.D. (the early fifth century):

Theodoret of Cyrus, The Ecclesiastical History

Book V, Chapter XXVI: Of Honorius the Emperor and Telemachus the monk.

"Honorius, who inherited the empire of Europe, put a stop to the gladitorial combats which had long been held at Rome. The occasion of his doing so arose from the following circumstance. A certain man of the name of Telemachus had embraced the ascetic life. He had set out from the East and for this reason had repaired to Rome. There, when the abominable spectacle was being exhibited, he went himself into the stadium, and stepping down into the arena, endeavoured to stop the men who were wielding their weapons against one another. The spectators of the slaughter were indignant, and inspired by the triad fury of the demon who delights in those bloody deeds, stoned the peacemaker to death.

When the admirable emperor was informed of this he numbered Telemachus in the number of victorius martyrs, and put an end to that impious spectacle."

While the story/illustration has been altered somewhat (as they tend to be over the years and passing from one source to another), the influence of Telemachus as a peacemaker was not. He is an example we can note in this area of our lives.

My apologies for any errors in the original illustrations. Sometimes it difficult to do indepth backgrounds on these because of time limitations.