The subtitle of this book is "Further Reflections on the Parable of the Prodigal Son." The further reflections are beyond his previous book, The Return of the Prodigal Son. I enjoyed that book and related to it so well that I ordered this one with anticipation. It, too, is wonderful, but slightly less compelling and interesting to me. I found it hard to connect to the ideas and to the highlighted quotes by other authors. I did enjoy the chapter on the elder son, however. Nouwen explores his own role as the eldest son in his family and very eloquently describes his resentment and bitterness. It's instructive because it's a trap that is so easily fallen into!
Like in his other book, Nouwen is masterful at describing the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father. It feels lush and abundant! I love how he describes it! Here's an example from page 103:
"Our spiritual journey is nothing more than a return to the intimacy, the safety, and the acceptance of that very first relationship with Love, that is uniquely present within each one of us."
From page 110: "True homecoming is choosing the way of Jesus, where we acknowledge the good and painful in our lives and we ask for patience and courage to forgive all those who have wounded us on the journey. Their love was limited and conditional, but it set us in search of that unconditional, unlimited love. This way takes us on a path through the desert of suffering to our hidden wholeness and to our utter beauty i the eyes of the One we name God."
From page 111: "In your stillness, listen and respond to the question "Who is your God?" Listen deeply for what you believe are the characteristics of the very Source of your life. Listen to how your heart relates to your God. Next look again at the painting of the meaningful but limited image of the One Jesus called God. Listen to the Heart of all hearts longing for intimacy and togetherness. Imagine the eyes of the father figure moving from the son to embrace you and to invite you to take the place of the adult child. When you are ready, put your head on Love's breast and allow the tender female hand to touch you in gratitude for your return. Feel the strong male hand caress you with joy and thoughts of celebration. Listen to words of tenderness, welcome, unconditional love directed toward you."
From page 113: "Let us be aware of small gestures of love offered us by others that remind us of our unique beauty. Let us try to gratefully accept the smile, the tender word, the caring embrace, and the recognition that affirms our personhood. These are but reminders of the overwhelming reception awaiting our every return to communion with God's Spirit, and that mercy is always available and always confirming the truth of our belovedness."
Here's an example of the highlighted quotes; this one from the epilogue:
"We do not hae to be saviours of the world! we are simply human beings, enfolded in weakness and in hope, called together to change our world one heart at a time." From Becoming Human by Jean Vanier, 1998, House of Anansi Press, Toronto, p. 163
From page 130: "When I saw the poster of the Rembrandt painting with the returning son being embraced by his father, I was totally overwhlemed and I said, 'That's where I want to be.' I began to think of myself as the runaway son wanting to return home. But then...the older son suddenly started to speak to me. I'm the oldest son myself and I recognized a lot of resentment in me, a lot of not fully enjoying where I was in my life. I woke up to the truth that both these young people lived in me.
"More than a year later something incredibly important happened for me. I suffered from depression and was on a long sick leave from L'Arche Daybreak. One member of my community came to visit me and in the course of the conversation she said, 'Henri, you're alwasy talking about yourself being the prodigal son, and you're often talking about yourself being the elder son, but not it's time for you to become the father! That's who you're called to be.'
"Look at the father figure in the painting. This person has the hand of a mother and the hand of a father, the male hand and the female hand touching a beloved child. Look at the figure of a father who is like a mother bird with a big cloak to safely enwrap her young close to her body. Look at the one who wants to welcome the child home without asking any questions. The father doesn't even want to hear the story of the younger son. He simply wants them 'home,' around the same table with him, growing up to become like him.
"In a moment I suddenly realized that my final vocation is not only to return hoe but also to welcome people home by saying, ' I'm so glad you are here! I'm so glad you're here! Come now. Bring out the beautiful cloak, bring the precious ring, find the best sandals. Let's celebrate because you've finally come home!'
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