Raynes Park CC Retreat Sept 2017

1. Key Theme…
Nouwen put his stamp on Christian spirituality by
conveying his understanding of the belovedness
of God, that we are the beloved sons and
daughters of God.

2. Nouwen, H. (1994). Return of the
Prodigal Son: A Story of
Homecoming
1983 encountered Rembrandt’s Return of the
Prodigal Son
1986 St. Petersburg - Hermitage Museum
Love and forgiveness as unconditional
• theme from the angles of the younger son,
the elder son, and the father.

4. The Younger
Son…
Luke 15:11-32
What words would you use to
describe the younger son?
‘When you think of prodigal what
questions do you have?’
How prodigal are you?

5. Younger Son…
What is our seduction trap?
What is our far off land?

6. The Far off Land…
The far off land for us is subtle?
• The need to prove that you are something
• That you are not lovable unless you earn it

7. How prodigal are you?
How much time is wasted on…
Wondering why someone hurt me; rejected me; didn’t
listen to me?
Day dreaming of power; influence?
Being afraid of being disliked, blamed, put aside,
passed over, ignored, persecuted?
Developing strategies to defend myself?
Assuring myself of the love I think I need and deserve?
“All contribute to a move away from my fathers home”

8. • What do you see in
Rembrandt’s lost
son?
• What words describe
the Son?
• What had happened
to the son in the
distant country?
• What happens to us
in our far off country?
• The prodigal had to
lose everything to
come in touch with
the ground of his
being…

9. I observe people who seem to be better off than I.
I wonder how I can get to where they are. I try
hard to please, to achieve success, to be
recognised. When I fail, I feel; jealous or resentful
of these others. When I succeed I worry that
others will be jealous or resentful of me… caught
in this tangle of needs and wants, I no longer
know my motivations … my heart grows heavy.
My body is filled with sorrows. My life loses
meaning. I have become a lost soul.
The younger son became fully aware of how lost
he was … whatever he lost he still remained his
father’s child.
Nouwen, H. (1994). Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming pp49

10. The Elder Son…
Luke 15:11-32
What words would you use to
describe the elder son?

12. • What do you see in
Rembrandt’s Elder Son?
• What was going on in this
man’s mind and heart?
• Parable of Lost Sons?
• How do you feel about
identifying with a man with
deep resentments, who
constantly alienates people by
his arrogant behaviour?

13. “It is hard for me to concede that this bitter,
resentful, angry man might be closer to me in a
spiritual way that the lustful younger brother. Yet
the more I think about the elder son, the more I
recognise myself in him”
Nouwen, H. (1994). Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming pp69

14. Lostness in the Elder Son
• Did all the right things
• Obedient
• Dutiful
• Law abiding
• Hardworking
• Respected
• Admired
• Praised
• Model son
• Outwardly faultless
• Proud
• Unkind
• Selfish
• Resentful
• Judgemental
• Condemning
• Prejudiced
• Angry

15. •What does more damage lust or resentment?
•Deeper complaint – comes from a heart that feels it
never received what it was due

16. “I tried so hard, worked so long, did so
much, and still I have not received what
others get so easily. Why do people not
thank me, not invite me, not play with
me, not honour me, while they pay so
much attention to those who take life so
easily and casually?”
Nouwen, H. (1994). Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming
pp72

17. The Father…
Luke 15:11-32
What words would you use to
describe the father?

19. • What do you see in
Rembrandt’s father?
• Difference in the Hands?
• masculine/ feminine;
• supportive/comforting;
• caressing/ holding
• Safety warmth of the
cloak?
• Son held to the heart of
the father

20. • Hands that forgive, console, heal and offer
celebration must become my own
Nouwen’s Conclusion

21. “I stand with awe at the place where Rembrandt
brought me. He led me from the kneeling,
dishevelled young son to the standing, bent-over
old father, from the place of being blessed to the
place of blessing ”
Nouwen, H. (1994). Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming
pp138

23. Christ has nobody on earth but yours,
no hands but yours,
no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which is to look out
Christ’s compassion to the world.
Yours are the feet by which he is to go about doing good.
And yours are the hands by which
He is to bless us now.
(attrib. St. of Teresa of Avila)