Western culture has for centuries now been steeped in empiricism (or a counter-reaction to it). For a premise to be considered true it must be observable and measurable by our five senses and ultimately in four dimensions (up, down, sideways, and for how long). If it currently is unknown and unmeasurable lots of research is done until a way is found where it can be observed and measured (the world of subatomic particles being just that, the means to observe and measure being almost as arcane as the particles themselves).
It is no surprise that the metaphysical therefore had fallen into disrepute among the learned in Western societies, and those who still believe in the metaphysical feel judged wanting and even stupid by those who scoff at the metaphysical because it is "unobservable" and "unmeasurable" except in its effects on those who believe its existence (and that is called psychology and anthropology and even that is undergoing research to boil it down to chemical and physical observable process).
In today's Gospel (St. John 20.19-31) St. Thomas can be seen as the quintessential empiricist. The others were claiming Jesus, whom they all had seen die on the cross, was alive, risen from the tomb and walking among them. Not surprisingly, the Twin (his nickname) thought they all were huffing the first century equivalent of glue. Everyone knew no one survived that level of abuse, and even if they did they would not be up and all over the place until weeks and months of painful recovery. No, St. Thomas put a challenge to the others whom he likely thought quite mad: "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." (St. John 20.25b)
So the Lord granted St. Thomas his request and gave him something he could measure, appearing before the Twin and telling him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." (St. John 20.29) Our Lord Jesus Christ, in order to strengthen St. Thomas' witness, appeared physically before him and removed all doubt, but stating the greater honour would be for those who still believe without seeing.
But are we left with nothing tangible of Our Lord? Do we have nothing to base that faith that caused the early believers to share everything (Acts 4:32-35) as we read in our first lesson at Mass? Do we simply take the words of those who claim to have seen this first hand, as stated in the Epistle reading (I Jn. 1.1-2.2)? At first, we must be content with that, but it does not stop there. For those who believe, who trust in the Lord, who commit to Him, who partake in his death and resurrection in Baptism, there is another tangible reminder. It is in the Sacrament of His Body and Blood where we can come and meet Him, see Him, and touch Him, and then partake of Him, the great sacrifice for our sins and our hope of the life to come.
Sadly, though, many will not see Him even there, bringing forth their scales and mass spectrometers and analyzers only to see the bread and wine, for they are using only the senses that allow us to see and perceive the material, the physical, and not the metaphysical. For that, we must employ our often stunted metaphysical senses, senses we were led to believe do not exist, or if they do they cannot be trusted. And perhaps in our spiritually impoverished age that is correct. Those senses are dulled by lack of prayer, by focus on self, by obsession with the material, and by isolation from the other faithful. After all, St. Thomas missed out because he was on his own. It was only when he rejoined the others he saw the Risen Lord.
May we too in some way or form open ourselves again to see the Risen Lord, to become metaphysically sensitive again, to see and touch and taste. Granted with the physical distancing now that is something from which we are fasting, but when we gather again, what a wondrous thing it will be.
