A Spirituality of Homecoming: The Henri Nouwen Spirituality Series

By Henri J. M. Nouwen and John S. Mogabgab

Henri Nouwen offers a welcome message for today's increasingly chaotic times: "Come home to God, and you will no longer feel like a stranger to yourself or the world."
*A Spirituality of Homecoming** invites readers to open their hearts and minds to the voice of love that says, "Follow me." When people follow the Lord, they find their true home with God. This means they can be at home with themselves anywhere, even in a confusing world.
In this brief book, Nouwen explores these facets of Christian discipleship:
• Conversion
• Freedom
• Solidarity
• Suffering
• Joy
• Prayer
• Service
The brilliance of Henri Nouwen's writing is its ability to help readers see clearly the simplicity and beauty of the spiritual life, beginning with the call to move closer to the heart of God and to dwell in the knowledge of God's love. Because of its deep wisdom and pastoral sensitivity, *A Spirituality of Homecoming** will be a helpful source of prayer and study for spiritual seekers, small groups, and pastors.
This book makes an excellent study for Lent but can also be used anytime by individuals or groups wanting a deeper understanding of discipleship.
UNIQUE SELLING POINT
These reflections on discipleship, written by one of today's most beloved spiritual teachers, urge readers to return to their true home in God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Upper Room Books
• Release date: Oct 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9780835812399

Henri J. M. Nouwen

Henri J. M. Nouwen (1932–1996) was the author of The Return of the Prodigal Son and many other bestsellers. He taught at Harvard, Yale, and Notre Dame universities before becoming the pastor of L’Arche Daybreak near Toronto, Canada, a community where people with and without intellectual disabilities assist each other and create a home together.

Book preview

A Spirituality of Homecoming

Henri J. M. Nouwen

John S. Mogabgab, Series Editor

NASHVILLE

THE HENRI NOUWEN SPIRITUALITY SERIES

A Spirituality of Homecoming

Copyright © 2012 The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher and The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust except in brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, write Upper Room Books, 1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212.

The Upper Room Web site: www.upperroom.org.

The Henri Nouwen Society website: www.HenriNouwen.org.

UPPER ROOM®, UPPER ROOM BOOKS®, and design logos are trademarks owned by The Upper Room®, a ministry of GBOD®, Nashville,Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The New Jerusalem Bible, copyright © 1985 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc. Reprinted by permission.

Scripture quotations designated JB are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, copyright © 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc. Reprinted by permission.

Scripture quotations designated NRSV are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cover and Interior Design: Sue Smith and Pearson & Co. Cover art: Gogh,Vincent van (1888). Mas at Saintes Maries de la Mer. Private Col-lection/Art Resource, NY. Photo on page 62 by Mary Ellen Kronstein. Used by permission.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Nouwen, Henri J. M.

A spirituality of homecoming / by Henri J. M. Nouwen.

p. cm. — (The Henri Nouwen spirituality series)

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-8358-1114-9

1. Spiritual life—Catholic Church. I.Title.

BX2350.3.N6924 2013

248.4'82—dc23

2012027334

Printed in the United States of America

CONTENTS

About the Henri Nouwen Spirituality Series

Preface

Acknowledgments

Home in the Heart

The Invitation

The Call

The Challenge

The Cost

The Reward

The Promise

Hidden Work

Notes

Henri J. M. Nouwen’s Works Cited

About Henri J. M. Nouwen

ABOUT THE HENRI NOUWEN SPIRITUALITY SERIES

HENRI NOUWEN sought the center of things. Never content to observe life from the sidelines, his approach to new experiences and relationships was full throttle. He looked at the world with the enthusiastic anticipation of a child, convinced that right in the midst of life he would find the God who loves us without conditions. Helping us recognize this God in the very fabric of our