“It is not something burdensome and demanding that He requires of us, is it? No, simply heartfelt contrition, a lull in our wild ideas, confession of sins, earnest recourse to Him; then He not only rewards us with the curing of our wounds and renders us cleansed of our sins, but also puts to rights the person who beforehand had been weighed down with countless burdens of sin.”

(St John Chrysostom, on Genesis 4)