“Sacrifice of Praise: The Todah and the Eucharist"
Presented by Dr. Tim Gray
Love & Sacrifice: 2006 Letter & Spirit Conference
Pittsburgh, PA
October 28, 2006

This talk focused primarily on the todah, a particular type of ancient Israelite peace offering, which focuses on thanksgiving or praise of God. This type of offering is considered was the most important and is particularly significant because it is always liturgical and is always oriented towards God. Dr. Gray describes the role of the todah, its various parts, and ultimately that the Eucharistic offering is in the classic form of both the Passover and the todah.

Dr. Gray first describes the todah as being in a particular context. This offering begins with the gathering of not just the person who will sacrifice, but others as well. It then continues with recounting how God saved you, and the singing of appropriate todah hymns. Next, a sacrifice occurs and just as importantly, a meal as well; sacrifice itself is not enough, you must actually eat the meal as well. Finally, zakar, remembrance, is present. This is not simply a one-time payment of debts, but a rededication of one’s life to God and his loving redemption.

The role of the todah is then described by Dr. Gray in the contexts of Israel, the prophets, and finally, the Psalms. First, in the context of Israel, we see David in finally taking Jerusalem as offering up a todah. Later, we see David reorganize the Levites and specify that they are to give thanks and praise, and “invoke” (which, for Dr. Gray, points to “zacar” and thus “remembrance”) in classic todah form. (Dr. Gray further points to other examples of the todah present in ancient Israel in 1 Chronicles 29, 2 Chronicles 33, Ezra 3, 2 Maccabees 10, and Nehemiah 12.) Second, in the context of the prophets, he points to Isaiah 12 as representative of todah eschatology (as ultimate deliverance). He also points to Isaiah 25 in which the remnant celebrate a todah meal (which in turn, for Dr. Gray, points back to Exodus 15). In addition, he points to the messianic meal as following the form of a todah. Third, in the context of the Book of Psalms, he points to Psalms 113-118 as todah songs, which ultimately provide a backdrop for the Last Supper. The whole Book of Exodus, for Dr. Gray, casts itself as a todah.

Dr. Gray speaks of how the todah hymn is the synthesis of lament psalms and praise psalms. He describes the view of ancient Israelites that in the Messianic age, all sacrifices and psalms would be todah sacrifices and todah psalms. In describing Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, Dr. Gray points to the fact that Psalm 118, a todah psalm, was sung. Perhaps most importantly, Dr. Gray points to the fact that the best Greek translation of todah is eucharistia. This all leads to Dr. Gray’s ultimate point: the Mass itself is cast in the form of a todah as it follows the classic form and context of a todah. We see this not merely in the words of the Mass (“thanks be to God,” “Go in peace,” “do this in remembrance of me,” etc.), but also in the Eucharistic sacrifice itself, instituted by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper.

This is the third in a series of my summaries of various scholastic papers which were presented (and have not been published as of yet) at the "Love & Sacrifice: 2006 Letter & Spirit Conference," which I attended in Pittsburgh, PA. -- Tom Reagan