The conditions that God enunciates for the wicked person to live (and not die) seem rather exacting: turn away from the sins committed, keep all God’s statutes, and do what is right and just. And whereas this is a demanding requirement, it’s important that we not miss the point. The promise of “living” when these conditions are met is not just a reprieve from death, or granting the state of mere “existing,” but rather living in the sense of being fully alive. Demanding anything less would be for God to discount the potential he has implanted in us—potential that sin constantly prevents being actualized. Thus, we will never be fully alive until we are able to live in accordance with God’s statutes and do what is right and just. However, in doing so we are not actually doing anything especially heroic, but simply acting in accordance with our true human nature created in God’s image and likeness. Achieving this happy state is a usually lengthy process and this Lenten season is, we hope, another important step towards living ever more fully the life God intended for us. May we not squander this graced opportunity.