Good Friday reminds us of Jesus' trial. For a number of reasons explained and unexplained, life is full of trials. Irrespective of the way they are conceived and lived, trials per se bring about anguish on those who suffer them. Think for example when a person is continually persecuted by another person, situation or state of mind.

In these difficult moments what stands to reason is primarily trust in Our Lord's mercy. The crucified Christ inspires us how to behave when confronted with any sort of persecution. "When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly" (1 Pt 2, 23).

God's word gives us a lot of courage in our daily ordeals. "If God is for us, who is against us...? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (Rom 8, 31.35).

It all boils down to our personal relationship with the crucified and risen Lord who transcends any kind of authority both in the world and in the Church. Thus goes on the aforementioned letter: "For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom 8, 38-39). He is the Lord of everyone and everything!

In times of great trials let us remember with great hope and confidence St Paul's exhortation in his letter to the Philippians: "I can do all things in him who strengthens me" (Phil 4, 13). Let us rest assured of Jesus' greatest promise for all times: "I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Matt 28, 20).