The thought of locking the consscrated Host into a small container just sounds strange to this Zwinglian. In a homily I heard last week, the young priest looked towards the Tabernacle and recalled a lesson taught to him in seminary. His instructor explained that inside that small box was God Himself.
Understand, Steve, that no locked box can contain God. As guardians of His greatest gift to us, His Real Presence in the Eucharist, we take whatever measures are necessary to prevent someone from taking these consecrated hosts, to defile them.
I understand, it still is strange. I don't mean this as an attack, but the thought of Jesus Christ locked in thousands of small tablernacles all over the world waiting the next mass makes my hair hurt.
When the tabernacle or ark in the OT was defiled, God struck the person dead. There were no locks placed on the Holy of Holies or the ark of the covenant!
I understand the RCC's desire that the Host not be defiled and I realize there are people who would desecrate the Host out of malevolent intent. So from a practical perspective I understand the lock and key requirement. The symbolism just befuddles me.
-- Pope Piel (putting curiosity back into the curia)