How many times have you read the book The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen? For me, it’s the first time, and I’ll read it again and again with certainty! See my review below and discover the delightful attributes of the Father and the two sons in this famous story from Scripture.

My Rating 5/5 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

©Image by CharlVera from pixabay via CanvaPro

Many people have read the book The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen. I was delighted to recently read this with the Bible Cafe Book Club. While the cover looked ancient and a bit dated, the content was relevant for today. I was deeply impressed by the wisdom and love flowing from every page of the book.

Pick up the book The Return of the Prodigal Son and learn how the two sons represent different spiritual strongholds. Since we carry these same strongholds today, the book is timeless and important for Christian living.

What surprised me most about this book is the personal reflections and transparency of the author, a Harvard professor and later a chaplain at a wellness center for people with developmental disabilities. His compassion, combined with his intelligence and gift for teaching, contributes to the success of his writing.

Something else I enjoyed about this book is the connection to masterpiece artwork. The author leads his readers into the famous gallery and examines Rembrandt’s work. No detail is missed, as you will discover by reading this great book.

Book: The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen

With over a million copies sold, this classic work is essential reading for all who ask, “Where has my struggle led me?”

A chance encounter with a reproduction of Rembrandt’s The Return of the Prodigal Son catapulted Henri Nouwen on an unforgettable spiritual adventure. Here he shares the deeply personal and resonant meditation that led him to discover the place within where God has chosen to dwell.

As Nouwen reflects on Rembrandt’s painting in light of his own life journey, he evokes a powerful drama of the classic parable in a rich, captivating way that is sure to reverberate in the hearts of readers. Nouwen probes the several movements of the parable: the younger son’s return, the father’s restoration of sonship, the elder son’s resentfulness, and the father’s compassion. The themes of homecoming, affirmation, and reconciliation will be newly discovered by all who have known loneliness, dejection, jealousy, or anger. The challenge to love as God loves, and to be loved as God’s beloved, will be seen as the ultimate revelation of the parable known to Christians throughout time, and is here represented with a vigor and power fresh for our times.

My Rating 5/5 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Favorite Quotes by Henri Nouwen

The world’s love is, and always will be, conditional. Henri Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son

The farther I run away from the place where God dwells, the less I am able to hear the voice that calls me Beloved. And the less I hear that voice, the more entangled I become in the manipulations and power games of the world. Henri Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son

We can allow ourselves to be found by God and healed by his love through the concrete and daily practice of trust and gratitude. Henri Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son