The key to salvation: It is never really lost

		Living the Scriptures  with St. Paul University  Catholic Center  Karen Schultz

I was in third grade the first time I locked myself out of my house. No matter how many times I dug to the bottom of my pockets, as I climbed down from the school bus, I just couldn't find the key my mom had tucked away for me.

With no other option, I rewrapped my scarf around my neck, slipped on my mittens, and trudged through the snow to our nearest neighbor down the road.

A short while later, Mom finished work, came to my rescue, and brought me home. She searched through my backpack that night as I protested, "I'm telling you, Mom, the key isn't in there. I already looked."

Fourth Sunday of Easter (April 17, 2005) Acts 2:14a, 36-41 Ps 23: 13a, 3b4, 5, 6 1 Pt 2:20b-25 Jn 10:1-10

But a few minutes later she emerged triumphant. She had found the key, tucked away in a pouch on my Trapper Keeper. I had simply forgotten where to look.

Being locked out in a physical sense is undoubtedly one of the most frustrating little annoyances humans must endure. Our day is disrupted, we waste time, and we feel helpless in a world we are forced to realize is beyond our control.

Those who know me know that being locked out of anything drives me nuts. In my own spiritual journey, however, I have learned that there are far worse things to which you can lose your key.

Missing out on a relationship with God must be by far the most disastrous experience of humankind. There is nothing keeping us grounded, or imploring us to live lives full of holiness and virtue. In essence, we are locked out of the precious promise of salvation offered to every human.

But what makes mankind's greatest trial so magnificent is that Jesus offers Himself as the solution. He is the one that not only brings us into a more perfect union with God, but He inspires and perfects the faith that was granted to us at the time of our creation.

For those of us who seek an abundant, fulfilled life packed with the spiritual riches of God's Kingdom, Jesus offers it. And in some ways, it is easier than we think to accept His offer. Christ is not there to elude us, to slip through our fingers, to deny us the green pastures spoken of so eloquently today in the Psalms.

His greatest joy is found when we simply stand at the gate and ask to be let in. Indeed, He says, "I came so that they might have life, and have it more abundantly."

Spiritual riches are ours, if only we would ask for the key to open them.

	Reflection questions • Picture Jesus holding out a key to you. It unlocks a closer relationship with Him. What will you say to Jesus? • Where can you look for other "keys" to greater closeness with Christ?

That experience of mine - being locked out of my house when I was so young - reminds me of how often a deeper relationship with God is within our grasp, if only we could remember where to look.

That is why Jesus continues to remind us in the Mass, the Scriptures, and each other, that He holds the key to salvation. All we need to do is walk through the gate and follow Him.

Karen Schultz, a 2004 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majored in zoology. She now lives in Washington, D.C.

St. Paul's Web site is www.stpaulscc.org

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