The Prodigal So by Henri Nouwen
Week 8: Epilogue — Becoming the Beloved
Read the Epilogue of The Return of the Prodigal Son. Primary Scripture: Luke 15:11–32 (re-read in full); 1 John 3:1–2.
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Nouwen's final word is not a conclusion but an ongoing invitation — the journey he has described is not one that ends, and the painting is not one you simply walk away from.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.Nouwen ends by describing his return from St. Petersburg changed — not by new information, but by sustained contemplation. He suggests the painting continued to work on him long after he left it. What in this book has continued to work on you, surfacing in unexpected moments? What image or phrase has stayed with you?
2.Nouwen's core conviction — running beneath every chapter — is that the fundamental truth of human existence is this: "You are the Beloved." He insists this is not a feeling but a truth to be claimed, returned to, and lived from. How do you distinguish between emotionally feeling beloved and theologically knowing you are beloved? Which do you tend to rely on?
3.Throughout the book, Nouwen has woven together three characters — younger son, elder son, father — and argued that we cycle through all three, sometimes within a single day. As you reach the end of the book, which of the three feels most alive in you right now? Which feels furthest away?
a.Is there a particular relationship or circumstance that is calling you to inhabit one of these roles more fully?
b.What would it look like, concretely, to respond to that call?
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