The return of the prodigal son Henri Nouwen

The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen is a deeply reflective spiritual meditation inspired by Rembrandt’s famous painting of the same name, in which Nouwen explores the parable of the prodigal son as a mirror of the human journey toward love, forgiveness, and homecoming; through personal narrative, biblical insight and psychological depth. It can be read as an exploration of identity formation, shame, and attachment, where the younger son reflects impulsive autonomy and the search for self-worth through separation, while the elder son embodies suppressed anger, moral rigidity, and resentment born from conditional self-esteem; the father represents an integrated, secure self capable of compassion rather than control, offering a model of emotional maturity and healing. Sociologically, the book speaks to dynamics of inclusion and exclusion within families, religious communities and societies, exposing how systems of merit, obedience, and moral comparison can fracture relationships and create hidden alienation even among the “faithful,” while Henri Nouwen challenges readers to move toward restorative compassion as a countercultural force that resists judgment, hierarchy, and transactional belonging in favour of reconciliation and communal wholeness.

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