The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming

Henri J.M. Nouwen
Book
Connection With
God

This mind-shifting book is about an exhausted psychologist priest, a chance encounter with Rembrandt’s painting of the prodigal son, and a classical Bible story. Nouwen, despite his affinity to both the younger son’s rebelliousness and the older son’s resentfulness, personally experiences the God of unbounding love who wants all of his kids to be home.


Few books have touched me (James) as profoundly, in large part because Nouwen invites the reader to let go of preconceived notions of “I’m not enough” and “God’s upset with me” in order to rest in the same delightful embrace he encountered. Then, in the last third of the book, Nouwen shows us how we too are called to be generous like our Father in heaven is.

This book will challenge you to embrace your spiritual adulthood, becoming the kind of beauty and goodness you have always wanted to become – able to bless in endless compassion, never expecting anything in return.

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