Part Three: Chapter Seven - “The Primal Relationship”, pgs 93-101
1. Jesus says to his disciples ‘All the glory I receive from the One who affirms me is available for you to receive as well’ (top of pg 96) Jesus came to offer us the same full communion with the Spirit-Father-Mother-Lover that he himself enjoys.
For many, this offer is hard to fully grasp. Do we really believe it? Take another look at the painting and consider the following aspects of it that Henri offers us on page 97:
The eyes of the Father, the hands of the Father, the cape, the words of celebration spoken, the best robe, the ring for the son’s finger, the new sandals for his feet, the calf, the fiesta, the banquet.
Which of these speak to you about living full communion and intimacy with God?
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May 23rd, 2009 @ 6:57 pm
There were two images that stood for me in the painting. One was the banquet. In the earlier part of the book, the sounds of the kitchen, the distant clutter of pots and pans, as well as chefs and sou-chefs giving directions to staff all seemed to ring forth. It spoke to me of preparation and anticipation of joy. Full communion with God is like a party where God does not hold back his love and delight in us, the beloved.
The second image is the eyes of the Father. The appear to be closed, yet there is light shining upon them. The figure that appears blind in this painting is in fact the one who gazes right at the viewer and whose gaze reaches into the heart. That image will stay with me.
May 23rd, 2009 @ 6:52 pm
Welcome Patty, I am really glad you came on board and introduced yourself to us. What you are living now with your two sons is incredible. How are you making out? Rose’s words were so comforting. My husband and I will be praying for you and your family (especially for your two sons). Perhaps during this time, you are the one that is being called to step into the Father’s shoes and embrace your sons with two hands while they live these difficult times. Just remember that while you do this, the gaze of Father-Mother- Spirit-Lover never wavers from you.
Kim
May 23rd, 2009 @ 9:01 am
Welcome Patty,
I’m glad you’ve spoken and let us know you are reading and following along. Thanks for sharing a bit about yourself and your sons. Please feel welcome to contribute a comment at any time. Now that we know you are there, we will be keeping you in our prayers.
Kim
May 21st, 2009 @ 10:08 pm
Dear Patty,
First, pull out that book of yours, “The Inner Voice of Love” and remind yourself that YOU and YOUR FAMILY are LOVED and God will carry all of you through these very stressful and FEARFUL days. To speak for myself, I lift your family up at this moment and will continue to. Please know that I’ve walked the unemployment walk with two small children and only $800 in the bank, twenty years ago and know first hand of the fear, anxiety and stress on a family and a marriage. They were my darkest times but as I look back that experience made my sons and me much better people. I say this because I’ve been sharing this lately with so many who felt like they had the carpet pulled out from under them these recent months because there is a light at the end of this. Recently I was saying to a friend that I just wish God would have given me a 10 second glimpse of my sons now and I wouldn’t have fretted so much back then. It wouldn’t be right for me to go into my story and I only say this to give you encouragement that we often can only see the fear and trepidation; but trust that everything is in the divine plan for a reason and all WILL work for good for those who love Him. I’ve held many hands during the Iraq deployments and as only a friend I was in tears many nights as I listened to the news. The day my son’s friend arrived back in the States was Easter and Christmas rolled up into one. February will be here before you know it but please don’t look that far — “one day at the time Sweet Jesus, help us one day at a time”. As a mom, I can only begin to relate to what is going on in your mind as a normal routine was just uprooted but trust that all shall be well. I couldn’t ignore your post and if you need to reach out via e-mail during this difficult time, I’ll try to give you courage and pick you up on the rough days by a return mail. Rosesent@aol.com
Heavenly Father - Please watch over Patty’s family. Keep them safe, give them courage and as the door to her son’s employment was closed, please open many new windows and enable him to provide for his family and don’t let him become discouraged or lose heart. These are all your children Lord and I know that you love them but I also know that sometimes when all earthly concerned weight us down, we can forget that you are with us. Keep her other son and his comrades safe as they protect all of us by being a presence in Afghanistan. Stay with them please. Let each member of this family feel your presence, love and peace. Lord, also please inspire the correct networking for employment and bring this family closer to you through all these trials and disappointments. I place this family in your hands and I know that you will take care of them. AMEN
May 20th, 2009 @ 8:54 pm
I wrote this amazing comment but it was LOST—-TECHNOLOGY
I have been cyber-eavesdropping since this blog started..I haven’t commented because at first I didn’t have the book then I was so far behind I didn’t want to rush my readings so I hope you are ALL going to continue next blog..So there is a reason to my madness in writing now I consider you all my community ..I really fell apart a few years ago and was “saved” by “The Inner Voice of Love”. I was amazed I had neverheard of Henri before and I love getting his daily readings etc. BUT now I have a hope you will pray with me for my sons..the oldest has 5 children and lost his job and the youngest has 3 children(5,3,7mos) has deployed to Afghanistan and won’t return til February…
I’ll return for the next blog but I’ll keep watching…..
GOD BLESS
Patty McCallen
May 20th, 2009 @ 12:24 pm
Henri Nouwen definitely has enlarged my appreciation of Rembrandt’s painting. Perhaps I never would have noticed, on my own, that one hand is feminine and one masculine. How extraordinary and wonderful!!!!!!! For me it is “words”, words in scripture, words that scripture tell us the Father said to the younger son, to the elder son, words that our Lord God says to us when we read scripture, words that Henri Nouwen uses to convey his own life and story and understandings to us, words that are typed by God’s beloved children on this webb site, words that come to me daily in interaction with people, hopefully other people hear my words as loving, it is words. It is such a joy to visit people in nursing homes and read them scripture, pray aloud with them, listen to them, and speak some words of encouragement and feel with them that sense of belonging. Even if someone is not cognizant, I still spend time listening by their bedside and speaking to them, also touching. There are words in the heart and on the lips. I try to understand their constant impact on people as they bind together or divide. You know, I wonder if Rembrandt was able to communicate his thoughts so fully to people or was he a bit tongue-tied and so painted to express himself? Could he tell others about his Father who was both feminine and masculine? How many others, besides Nouwen, have been so able to hear him? I wonder.
May 20th, 2009 @ 7:33 am
It is difficult to accept and believe the words of Jesus about our being accorded full communion with the Father-Mother-Lover God just as Jesus is in full communion. The only way that I can accept this truth is to realize that it is in relationship and not in identity. There is still differentiation of Creator and creature. This very communion is itself gift from our Giver. He is the Source and Provider of the communion, and our response to Jesus’ words can be only gratefulness for such mercy.
As Henri describes each aspect of the Rembrandt painting, we see the gaze of the father directed with Love, as Love, to his son, those hands (Mother and Father hands) touching/holding the shoulders of his son, the cape enfolding him tenderly in warmth. . Words of welcome and joy, offfering recognition of his return with full array of celebration, robe and ring, signifying honor and stature, fatted calf satisfaction of taste and specialness, new sandals with which to walk freshly as new and restored creation with the Father in the life and world they share.