Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
I used to describe it as the "money" quote from Jerry Maguire: "show me the money". Now that reference is too aged, so I describe it in 3 words: It's Never Enough.
Those 3 words apply to everything we do, whether in our church, our marriage, our friendships, our work, etc.
To me, God speaks to us in a loving way to do our best, to never quit.
I remind my students that it's not easy to be a Catholic...it's hard work. It's not enough to merely go to Mass once a week, or to give up something during Lent...it's never enough.
Speaking to your post, I love teaching the Old Testament, because it's at the heart of our traditions. How can one appreciate our faith without knowing the important men and women of the Old Testament?
For example, a sizable percentage of the First Readings are from the Book of Isaiah. Why? What makes him so important? That's just one of the lessons we teach during the year.
And THAT is the whole problem with Catholicism. It's never enough. There's always more and you're never sure you made the mark, so try harder.
When Jesus died on the cross, He said *It is FINISHED*, and the curtain of the Temple was torn in two.
Jesus told us, Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Jesus didn't come to put us into bondage, He came to set us free.