When Henri Nouwen stumbled across a poster of Rembrandt's Return of the Prodigal Son he began a spiritual journey that would help him understand the biblical parable as well as the story of his own life. Take this opportunity to join Henri as he leads the wayward prodigal and judgmental sibling who reside within each of us towards the open-handed, overwhelming compassion and eternal love of the Father. The Return of the Prodigal Son will transform your reading of the parable and the way you understand your life story.

The beloved spiritual writer meditates on the parable of the prodigal son's return -- a powerful drama of fatherhood, filial duty, rivalry, and anger between brothers -- and its enduring lessons for Christianity.

Full-color photographs with gatefold.

Average Rating:

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Reviewed by Rosemary Thorn (Fishkill, NY), May 26, 2010

excellent easy reading and very enlightening for the reader. Understanding in many areas of forgiveness

Reviewed by Theora Ohaneson (Middlebury, IN), August 01, 2008

Awesome book, the author does a fantastic job of allowing his readers to go to broader and new views of the parable. This book brings to life, the painting by Rembrandt, but also your own life in realtion to the lost son, unforgiving brother, and the ever open arms of the Father. Best book I have read in my 67 years.

Reviewed by Bruce J Simpson (Apopka, FL), April 21, 2008

What a wonderful expositing of Luke 15:11-32. I believe that I may have coined the term "teachamony" which would apply to this book. The reader should check out an online original image of the painting as the cover photo is too dark to pick out details relevant to the book. It truly blessed me.

Reviewed by Judith Cassells (Stafford Qld 4053,), March 04, 2008

This book is a brilliant new look at how we view this parable and I recommend it to all my friends and even tho I don't need more books on my shelf I had to buy this one so that I could lend it to people I felt would grow from reading it.

Reviewed by Barbara Lake (Palm Coast, FL), January 02, 2008

A friend lent me this book, and while learning to accept the Love of Father God, Henri Nouwen reveals his journey to not only receive the Father's Love, but to give out His Unconditional Love as well it was soothing, had me cry and let my feelings out and oh my, i have bought 5 copies to give to some special people in my life, some who are artists and can identify with Rembrandt's painting, praying for their understanding of how much we are loved by Our Heavenly Father, that He will always provide, protect and heal us.

Reviewed by Dr. Robert W. Kellemen (Taneytown, MD), May 02, 2005

For millions of people of many faiths, the story of the Prodigal Son resonates with something deep within. Which of us in the human family does not long for faithful love? Which of us does not crave reconciliation? Because the story is so familiar to so many, it requires an artist not with a brush but with a pen. In "The Return of the Prodigal Son," Henri Nouwen paints from the palette of Scripture, Rembrandt, Church history, his life, and his soul-telling the story as if it had never been told before. In his masterful hands, it becomes the Parable of the Forgiving Father, then the Parable of the Pharisaical Son, then the Parable of His Life, and then the Parable of My Life. Rarely has anyone so poignantly revealed so many shades of meaning from a painting or a passage. Don't worry, you need not be an art connoisseur or a lover of Scripture to savor Nouwen's story telling. Being human will suffice. Reviewer: Dr. Bob Kellemen, author of "Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction" and "Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction."

Reviewed by Rick Miller (Kettering, Ohio), January 03, 2002

The Return of the Prodigal Son is one of the most convicting books I have recently read. In Nouwen's book, I have found myself to be a prodigal who needs to return home to my Father. I have been convicted of being a self-righteous older brother who has stayed home but desperately needs to return to my Father. Lastly, I have been challenged to imitate the Father who weeps over the leaving of His children and who longs for, and rejoices in, the return of His children. This book, along with Yancey's What's So Amazing About Grace?, is a call for modern believers to rediscover God's grace and be transformed by God's grace.

Reviewed by Ed Eubanks (Roanoke, VA), August 01, 2000

Nouwen's clear and understandable explanation of the depth of our identity in the parable of the prodigal son is met with his vulnerable and emotional response to it. Nouwen superbly draws insight out of Rembrandt's painting by the same title, which becomes the hub around which our discussion of the parable revolves. I could not more highly recommend a book for personal growth and understanding of the scope of one's faith in life.

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