Amos 5:6-15
Psalms 32, 95, 102, 130, 143
Hebrews 12:1-14
Luke 18:9-14
It is called normalcy bias and it can be dangerous, even deadly. Normalcy bias is the assumption that things will continue to be normal… that tomorrow will be pretty much like today… which was pretty much like yesterday.
We all probably have this to some degree. It becomes a problem, however, when people underestimate the possibility of disaster and fail to prepare for it. An example might be those who fail to evacuate beachfront homes prior to a hurricane. They have been through hurricanes before. They can do it again.
Ash Wednesday serves as a warning against normalcy bias. "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return," we are reminded.
No one wants to contemplate his or her own death. So we don't.
Then, along come Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent. The themes of self examination and repentance; prayer, fasting and denial; reading and meditating on the Scriptures… these break our complacency and remind us that life is a gift from God. This gift is to be used properly, as God intends. And one day, we will be held accountable for the use of the gift that God has given us.
The question, therefore, is this: will we go through Ash Wednesday and Lent by merely observing the season's liturgical formalities as we continue to live normally?
Or will we let the season serve its purpose? Will we do the serious work of comparing our lives with God's design?
Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.
Fr. Bob Henson