From Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book Meditations on the Cross, the chapter entitled "Suffering in Solidarity".
Christ avoided suffering until his hour had come; then, however, he went to it in freedom, seized it, overcame it. Christ - so scripture tells us - experienced all the suffering of all human beings in his own body and as his own suffering (an in comprehensibly lofty notion!), and took it upon himself in freedom...When I avoid suffering, is it a logical avoidance of unnecessary pain, or is it a fearful act which shows more fear of pain than of God? Will I face the danger and seize the hour, when Godly suffering comes?
Although we are not Christ, if we want to be Christians we must participate in Christ's own magnanimous heart by engaging in responsible action that seizes the hour in complete freedom, facing the danger...
Inactive "waiting-and-seeing" or impassively "standing-by" are not Christian attitudes.
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