What if repentance isn’t about punishment, shame, or self-improvement... but about coming home? In this episode, Dr. Michael Christian & John are joined by Fr. Michael Butler (Avg2Alpha) for a deep, pastoral conversation on the Parable of the Prodigal Son & the Church’s wisdom in placing it at the heart of the Triodion, just before Great Lent begins. Together, they explore repentance not as despair or moral failure, but as return... a healing movement of the whole person: body, soul, & attention. From shame & resentment to mercy, discipline, & sonship, this episode speaks especially to those who feel scattered, exhausted, or quietly resentful while trying to “do everything right.” This is not a call to perform better. It’s an invitation to come home. This conversation is part of the Triodion mini-arc leading into Great Lent, focusing on the Church’s preparation of the heart before ascetic effort begins. Episode 48 centers on the Prodigal Son; the next episode continues with Meatfare Sunday & the call to mercy in love of neighbor. Takeaways: Repentance in Orthodoxy is not self-hatred, but reorientation & return God meets us exactly where we are, but does not leave us there Mercy is not permissiveness; it is grace that calls us higher The “older brother” temptation is often resentment disguised as obedience Distraction, overstimulation, & restlessness mirror spiritual exile True healing involves confession, stability, & embodied spiritual rhythm Discipline of the body must serve communion with God, not ego or control Sound Bytes: “God meets us where we are, but He calls us back into the home.”“Repentance isn’t about self-condemnation... it’s about coming to yourself.”“Mercy does not mean permissiveness. God never leaves us where we are.”“The older brother did everything right... & still couldn’t rejoice.”“When we’re scattered spiritually, it shows up as restlessness in the body.”“The Church is not a courtroom. It’s a hospital.”“The real victory in wrestling with God is learning how to surrender.”Chapters:00:00 Opener 01:29 The Prodigal Son & the Purpose of the Triodion 03:56 Meet Fr. Michael Butler (Journey to Orthodoxy) 11:27 The Prodigal Son: Repentance, Mercy, & Return 14:22 Reality Is Informed by Christ (Not Psychology or Ideology) 16:10 Jordan Peterson, Young Men, & the Search for Meaning 24:17 Why the Orthodox Church Is Growing (Especially Among Men) 28:01 “He Came to Himself”: Repentance, Attention, & Healing the Mind 33:34 Distraction, Digital Scattering, & Spiritual Fragmentation 36:24 Can Yoga Be Christianized? 39:46 The Father Who Runs Toward the Prodigal 42:15 Slaves, Servants, & Sons: Remorse vs. Repentance 46:30 The Elder Brother: Resentment, Covert Contracts, & Pride 50:44 The Royal Path: Avoiding Both Legalism & License 56:18 Mentorship, Fatherhood, & Spiritual Authority 01:00:14 Confession as Therapy: The Church as a Hospital 01:02:16 Wrestling with God (& Hoping to Lose) 01:05:21 Bodybuilding, Asceticism, & Discipline of the Body 01:16:15 Fr. Roman Braga & the Meaning of Veneration 01:16:57 Spiritual Legacy, Saints, & Faithfulness Over Time 01:20:42 Coming Home: Practical Steps to Return to God During Lent Work with Fr. Michael Butler: Avg2Alpha.com Work with Dr. Mike: OrthodoxHealth.com Signed Copies of Orthodoxy & The Medicine of the Future, with digital bonuses: OrthodoxHealth.com/book Order Orthodoxy & the Medicine of the Future on Amazon Donate to St. John the Theologian here Support the Show with a One-Time or Recurring donation: coff.ee/OrthodoxHealth Intro & Outro Music: St. John of Chicago Orthodox Church Choir (Arkansas) - Please support their building fund by buying the whole album here Orthodox Health Instagram Orthodox Health Telegram