“The mystery of redemption is that Gods Son became flesh so that all the lost children of God could become sons and daughters as Jesus is son. In this perspective, the story of the prodigal son takes on a whole new dimension.”

Nouwen writes with a deeply engaging vulnerability and emotion, a worshipful heart (through art and word), while simultaneously dipping the readers toes in a depth of theology that only creates a heart desiring to head to the scriptures to search for more. Did I agree with every sentiment? No, but what I am grateful for is Nouwen’s clear desire to be held tightly to the Father through the Son. I’m thankful for the ways this book caused me to reflect on my flesh in acting as the elder son and younger son, and then to be pointed back to the perfect elder and younger son, Jesus.

I have read this book SOOOO many times and each season, it brings new fruit. This book is excellent for those who want to understand the various roles we can live in life, whether you feel like the lost Prodigal son, the resentful elder son, or the all loving Father. Regardless of where you are in life, the loving Father is waiting for you at home and this books is a great reminder of how we are called to Him and to be Fathers for others who are lost ❤️

Loved the way this book was set up with him walking from the younger son to the older son to the father in the painting and finishing with how we must become the father. A lot to pray with from this book especially the need for grief, forgiveness, and generosity in our love for others and for God in become perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect.

This was recommended to me (on separate occasions) by my college roommate and my brother-in-law (both of whom I adore), so it had been on my list for a while and well-hyped — and boy did it live up to the hype. This was absolutely phenomenal. Having studied Art History, I was familiar but not overly-familiar with the Rembrandt painting and was surprised by the depth of Nouwen’s analysis. This, accompanied by the meditative look at the prodigal son parable, was eye-opening. I had never sat with the story of the prodigal son to the extent that Nouwen did and I was inspired by how far he was able to apply what he learned.

This is the familiar story of the Prodigal Son seen through the visual of the 17th painting of the subject by Rembrandt and analyzed from the perspective of the younger son, the elder son and the father. The author sees parts of himself and really of us all in all three characters. Ultimately he sees the great love of the father who never forces that love on others, but is always there filled with love, equal for both, when the others are ready and willing to receive it.

Our staff team read this book over the summer. I'm glad we did, and I look forward to the conversations around it. Most of my life, I have considered myself in the shoes of the older son. I could relate to Nouwen's own experience of being the 'good' kid - the one who (resentfully) did the right thing. This book has given me perspective on both sons in new ways, but at this stage in life, I particularly resonated with his words about the father - the call to loneliness, death to self, and generous compassion towards others. We can stay in the more "comfortable", immature positions of being the invited and welcomed children... but if we want to grow, we need to learn what it means to be the hurting father who reaches out arms of love towards other lost, angry children.

A book worth reading again.

Lowkey this book was made for me. It’s literally a book about a painting and one of the best parables. Thanks Jesus! But seriously this book was great and if you don’t think so buy me a coffee and I’ll tell you why it’s good.

The Return of the Prodigal Son is truly captivating, but also incredibly uncomfortable. I randomly stumbled upon it and was drawn in by the authors passion for Remembrandt’s painting of this biblical story and the way it deeply impacted his own spiritual journey.

I actually stopped this audio book many times to jot down thoughts and I have a deeper appreciation for the biblical story because of insights from this book.

However. There was much in this book that was not biblical. There were a number of ways he worded things that left me with the distinct impression that he was saying something but I wasn’t familiar with the phrasing so wasn’t quite sure what he was getting at. But some specific examples I did follow were about the motherhood of God and original goodness, amongst many more. Additionally, sin, repentance, and the finished work of Christ on the cross were implied but were not clearly addressed.

Might come back and leave stars if I figure out how I’d actually star it. But leaving blank for now.

Using Jesus’ well-known parable and Rembrandt’s painting of The Return of the Prodigal Son, Nouwen performs a thorough and meaningful close-read, expounding on the spiritual roles of Father, Brother, and Son (or, more appropriately, Parent, Sibling, and Child, since Nouwen does not dwell on gender specificity). Divided into three main sections, the book describes each of these figures, drawing further insight from Rembrandt’s painting and corresponding events in the painter’s life. The discussion explores the characters of the younger and older brothers and the many ways in which they represent humanity; but the entire book culminates in an examination of the father, who is not only the final speaker in Jesus’ story and the visual center of Rembrandt’s piece, but also a personification of the nature of God’s love—a personification to which we all are called to aspire.

On the whole, the book succeeds as a feel-good reassurance of God’s love for his people without resultantly serving up a mushy or watered-down theology. The subsequent step to accepting the all-forgiving, all-consuming love of the father is committing oneself to the incredible calling to be a “father.” Without ever erring on self-righteousness or preachiness, Nouwen demonstrates that we are not called simply to be children of God, but to humbly strive to take on a role similar to that of the benevolent and selflessly embracing patriarch of Rembrandt’s painting. Nouwen’s prose is instructive without ever becoming didactic. He brings himself to the same level as his readers without compromising his position as an authority on the subject. In this way, The Return of the Prodigal Son serves not only as a source of emotional reassurance, but also as a firm challenge to the reader to take seriously the responsibilities inextricable from being the Beloved of God.

Just when I thought I had learned all the depth and insights possible in regard to the story of the Prodigal Son, this book showed me how mistaken I was. I was blown away by some of Nouwen’s reflections.
This book falls into the category of life-changing, soul-speaking books that I’ll never forget and never tire of rereading. Nouwen speaks directly to the deepest parts of me.
*Amended to 4 stars: some of his conclusions (that I had skimmed over) should be read with a discerning eye.*

This is an excellent, mature, thought-provoking reflection on the famous Gospel parable of the Prodigal Son. In sharing his very personal prayer with this story and its depiction by Rembrandt, Fr. Nouwen has written a universally insightful and challenging book. I need to buy

Beautiful book of Nouwen's meditations on Rembrandt's painting of Jesus' parable. Nouwen shares about his interpretations, new angles of light shewn, through his life, re-encounters with the painting, conversations, and (with lesser influence) commentaries. Nouwen's thoughts and ideas will stick with me for a long long time.

I cannot get to my review without mentioning an issue that I find theologically problematic. One familiar with the parable will recognize that the father in the parable is God. I do not disagree with the claim that God shows us perfect parenthood in perfect fatherhood and perfect motherhood. The problematic piece is speaking of God the Father as "She" to describe how He perfectly shows us love as a mother receives her child. I can forgive him for having written this, but it cannot be glossed over or accepted in my eyes.

the rest of my review, with spoilers:

It has been a fantastic journey and meditation for myself to read this book and learn of Nouwen's heart. Throughout Nouwen's life, he progresses from seeing himself in the young prodigal son, then the elder jealous son, and finally the all-loving, all-giving father. Respectively we (yes 'we' because I have meditated and concur with Nouwen's findings) find that we are called to return to a father and receive our rightful place as heirs, know we have everything in our Father and rejoice with the lost who were found, and ascend to the lone compassionate giver; the father. I have always and only seen myself as the prodigal son, picking at my soul with the lens of the elder son harbouring resentment and inward eyes was painful yet soul-refining. I am grateful for Nouwen showing us Jesus' perfect sonship and compassion; humbling Himself to leave all that He had with the Father and gloriously being entrusted all by the Father. I am most grateful for Nouwen showing me the call to become the father in this parable, highlighting grief, forgiveness, and generosity. Along themes I have thought of before, Nouwen reinforces them with humility and experiences with L'Arche community of "mental handicapped". Indeed sonship is easy, comfortable even, the succession of a son to father is difficult, lonely, full of grief and cross-pick-upping-self-denial, but one that we are called to by the love we were first given by God.

"The community does not need yet another younger or elder son... but a father who lives with outstretched hands, always desiring to let them rest on the shoulders of his returning children... And still, after a long life as son, I know for sure that the true call is to become a father who only blesses in endless compassion, asking no questions, always giving and forgiving, never expecting anything in return." (pg. 201)