Henri Nouwen Quotes:

Notes on ‘Beloved’ by Henri Nouwen: from 'The Only Necessary Thing'

Jesus’ spiritual identity is ‘beloved son’ and the temptations in the desert are temptations to move away from that, to believe he was someone else: you are the on who can turn stone into bread. You are the one who can jump from the temple. You are the one who can make others bow to your power. Jesus said ‘no, no, no. I am the Beloved from God. I think his whole life is continually claiming that identity in the midst of everything. There are times in which he is praised, times when he is despised or rejected, but he keeps saying ‘others will leave me alone, but my Father will not leave me alone. I am the beloved Son of God. I am the hope found in that identity.’ Prayer then is listening to that voice - to the one who calls you the Beloved. It is to constantly go back to the truth of who we are and claim it for ourselves. I’m not what I do. I’m not what people say about me. I’m not what I have. Although there is nothing wrong with success, there is nothing wrong with popularity, there is nothing wrong with being powerful, finally my spiritual identity is not rooted in the world, the things the world gives me. My life is rooted in my spiritual identity. Whatever we do, we have to go back regularly to that place of core identity. 

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It strikes me that the wayward son had rather selfish motivations. He said to himself, ‘how many of my Father’s paid servants have more food than they want, and here I am dying of hunger! I will leave this place and go to my Father.’ He didn’t return because of a renewed love for his father. No, he returned simply to survive. He had discovered that the way he had chosen was leading him to death. Returning to his father was a necessity for staying alive. He realised that he had sinned, but this realisation came about because sin had brought him close to death.

I am moved by the fact that the father didn’t require a pure heart before embracing us. Even if we return only because following our desires has failed to bring happiness, God will take us back. Even if we return because being a Christian brings us more peace than being a pagan, God will receive us. Even if we return because our sins did not offer as much satisfaction as we had hoped, God will take us back. Even if we return because we could not make it on our own, God will receive us. God’s love does not require any explanations about why we are returning. God is glad to see us home and wants to give us all we desire, just for being home.

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The difference that knowing  you’re loved and accepted has on how you receive trials:

When we keep listening attentively to the voice calling us the Beloved, it becomes possible to live our brokenness, not as a confirmation of our fear that we are worthless, but as an opportunity to purify and deepen the blessing that rests upon us.

Physical, mental, or emotional pain lived under the blessing is experienced in ways radically different from physical, mental, or emotional pain lived under the curse. Even a small burden, perceived as a sign of our worthlessness, can lead us to deep depression - even suicide. However, great and heavy burdens become light and easy when they are lived in the light of the blessing. What seemed intolerable becomes a challenge. What seemed a reason for depression becomes a source of purification. What seemed punishment becomes a gentle pruning. What seemed rejection becomes a way to a deeper communion.

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Reminding each other that we should not forget to pray in our busy lives is like reminding each other to keep breathing! Prayer is the essence of the spiritual life without which all ministry loses its meaning. It is the fulfilment of the great commandment to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind.