From The Sadness of Christ:
Judas Iscariot, I tell you, not one of the faithless paynims, not one of the Jews, Christ’s mortal
enemies, not one of Christ’s mean disciples (and yet who would have suspected any such thing in them?)
but one, alas, of Christ’s own chosen apostles, is not ashamed here both to deliver his lord and master
into their hands, and also to be the head captain of them that should take him himself.
Here have all men that be in office and authority a good lesson to learn, that when they hear
themselves solemnly called by names of high honour, cause have they not alway therein greatly to
rejoice, and therewith to stand highly in their own conceit, but then especially to reckon the same best to
beseem them, if their own conscience do shew them that, for the well doing of their duties in their
offices, they do indeed deserve to bear so honourable a name.
Since else may they be full sore ashamed, unless they take pleasure in such bare, vain words,
seeing as many as be aloft and in authority, be they great estates,212 princes, dukes, emperors, priests, or
bishops, if they be naught, must of this be well assured, that whensoever folk do ring in their itching ears
such gay glorious titles of office, they do it not with their heart truly to honour them, but the more freely
under a colour of praise covertly to control them, for those honourable rooms213 so unworthily used.
Saint Thomas had lived to see almost all the great names in England, with a few honorable exceptions, play the role of Judas.
