I’m wearing black for the next six weeks. Black on purpose. Black for Lent. 

Lent is the forty day season running up to Easter. It started last Wednesday, on Ash Wednesday, and finishes on Easter Day, as followers of Jesus celebrate the forgiveness and new life Jesus brings through his death and resurrection. Lent has always been a time for reflection, as we seek to put right things that need amending. If done all the time, this kind of deliberate soul-searching can become too self-centred, but when done for a season it can be healthy and helpful. Lent is such a time, which is why this Lent I’m wearing black.

Why black? Since medieval times black has symbolised simplicity and humility, as well as a desire to serve. That’s why priests and many church leaders have often worn black. Sometimes they wear different colours depending on the seasons, with bishops often wearing purple much of the time, to signify their office. But black is sometimes worn particularly when wanting to show sadness and repentance, as people seek to reflect (on the outside) the state of their heart (on the inside). This is really why I’m wearing black: it’s a sign of penitence.

Penitence is about saying sorry. It’s saying sorry for all that we’ve thought, said or done that’s wrong. But we can also be penitent on behalf of others, from a local church (like the people of your parish church) or group of churches (like the Church of England), to a local community (like mine in Greater Manchester) or a nation (like the United Kingdom). 

My penitence this Lent is about saying sorry to God and others at all these levels. It is about seeing my own imperfections and weaknesses: my neglect of those in need, my lack of concern for those who don’t yet know the love of Christ, and the general selfishness that I too often observe and wish wasn’t there. It’s also about recognising that I’m part of a nation that has many failings too: often not treating people well or kindly, especially those who struggle, like people in poverty, the elderly and refugees. And I am part of a church that, despite many good things, has failed too many times in its safeguarding responsibilities and in supporting victims of abuse. That’s why I was pleased to start wearing black the night before Lent, as I played a small part in a special Service of Reflection for those Involved in Safeguarding, held in Manchester Cathedral. It included a talk by Duncan Craig OBE, Founder and CEO of We Are Survivors who reminded us that while safeguarding leaders must do their job well, and he was thankful that most did, caring for and watching over people really is the responsibility of us all.

That takes me back to me, to the fact that I need to make sure I am taking my responsibilities seriously, as a human being, as a follower of Jesus, as a husband and father, and as a leader in the church. I hope wearing black will assist me as I pray and fast about this during Lent. I trust it will help me embody my prayers and be cleansed and filled afresh with the Spirit of Jesus, as I join with many others in seeking the kind of changes for which we all long. 

If you want to see change in yourself, in churches and in society, why not join me this Lent in making time to stop and reflect, to think and to pray. You might even decide to wear black.