HOW TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL SHABBAT DINNER? The Shabbat dinner is a joyful and festive meal to start our week. It consists of four important parts: • Lighting the candle(s) • Communion • Affirmative prayers • Dinner Lighting the candle(s) The purpose of lighting the candle is to illuminate your home and to increase peace and harmony (shalom bayit) in it. Jesus is the light of the world, and by lighting the candle at the beginning of the Sabbath, we usher in his presence and welcome him as our guest of honor. When our guest arrives for dinner, he brings peace (shalom) into our home. Lighting the candle demonstrates that Jesus is the light in our home, that we make time to enjoy his presence and that we have hope because he lives. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. (John 1:5 NLT) Imagine a network of households across the city (and nation) that have the weekly habit of declaring that Jesus is the light of the world in this way, people who demonstrate that their families are loyal to the King of kings! Communion The bread and the wine (or grape juice) are powerful symbols. The bread symbolizes Christ’s body, and as we eat from the same bread, we announce that we are one in him. His body was broken so that we can be made whole, individually and as a family. The wine (or grape juice) is a symbol for the blood of Jesus that was poured out for us for the forgiveness of all our sins – through which we were adopted back into the presence of God. And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (Luke 22:19-20 ESV) It is also a powerful proclamation as the word tells us, For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. (1Cor.11:26 ESV) Through communion: • We remember what Jesus has done 2000 years ago on the cross; • We thank him for what he is doing in our lives and families today; • We look forward to his return, when he will invite us to sit with him at another table: the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev.19:9). Affirmative prayers This is a time of healing and of restoring a divine order in the household/family that will release God’s blessing. The head of the house (or host of the evening) prays a prayer of thankfulness, honor and gratitude over his wife. He speaks blessings and prays over his children (and/or guests) with words of affirmation. In doing so, he takes his place as the “head of the house” or the “priest of the home”. In return, the wife (or a guest) speaks a prayer of blessing and thankfulness over the head of the household that honors his/her position as the head of the family or the host. These prayers show the difference in the functions of the people involved, and at the same time their equality in kingdom value. The same applies when we are celebrating with guests or friends. The leader (host of the dinner) speaks a blessing and prayers of affirmation over his/her guests. One of the guests will pray a prayer of blessing and gratitude over the host in return. Imagine the effect of these prayers of affirmation
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