I stood at the base of the Coliseum in Rome, Italy with a sense of sadness and awe. In the span of 500 years, it is estimated that 500,000 people and over 1 million wild animals were killed there – all in the name of entertainment.

One of the first questions I couldn’t help but asking myself while there was, “Why weren’t there more people who were outraged? Why didn’t the people demand that the killing stop?!”

Well, one man confronted this evil, demanded that the killing stop, and was martyred as a result. His name is St. Telemachus and here is his fascinating story:

In the early 400’s AD, a little monk named Telemachus from Asia (Turkey) felt led by an inner voice to go to Rome without knowing why. Following the crowds to the Coliseum, he witnessed two gladiators fighting. Stepping in between them, he cried out, “In the name of Christ, forbear!”

The crowds were so enraged someone was interfering with their entertainment they stoned Telemachus to death. When the crowd saw the little monk had died, they grew silent and left the stadium one by one.  When the emperor was informed of Telemachus’s death, he issued a decree to end the games.

Often we may see injustices happening in our world today and think, “What can I do? I am only one person and the injustice (or issue) is massive and systemic.” I am sure that there were many people who lived during the days of those games who knew that this continual killing was wrong but felt powerless to stop it.

Telemachus was not. He was gripped with a passion for truth, justice, peace, and righteousness that compelled him to speak and to act. He gave up his life, but as a result he saved thousands of people and animals who would have continued to be killed.

While we cannot all create a massive societal change in a matter of hours like Telemachus, we can all make a choice to follow his example.

1) Come humbly before God and ask for eyes to see the injustices and evil in our society. Sometimes, we may need to confess that we have become numb to certain evils that exist around us because we have become accustomed to them. I am sure that many citizens in Rome made excuses for their participation in the games.

2) Pray for passion and compassion towards those who are victims of such evil and ask that God would free you from any indifference or apathy in your heart.

3) Pray for a loving, thoughtful way to take action. Scripture says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:21

St. Telemachus shows us that one person can make a difference. All that we think, say, and do will make an impact on those around us. Let’s choose to stand for what is right, even when it is not popular. 

Only God knows the influence and impact our words and actions will make.

photo credit: Zach Dischner