How well are the psalms understood? The parables seem more accessible, but are they? And as familiar as we are with the texts of the psalms and the parables, how open are we to new perspectives on them?

The studies in Like a Tree Planted, the first volume in the Connections series, encourage readers to deepen their understanding of the psalms and parables and to grow in their relationship with God. Like a Tree Planted invites reflection on eight pairs of psalms and parables by highlighting their shared metaphor. These images, familiar from our everyday lives as well as from both testaments, encourage fresh insights from familiar scriptural texts.

The psalms presented here, all from the first book of the Psalter, and the parables, selected from Luke's Gospel, speak deeply and collaboratively through figures of the tree, our stature and status, searching faces, feelings of entitlement and responsiveness, the ecosystem, shepherding, the storehouse, and "the other side."

An introductory chapter in Like a Tree Planted introduces readers to the process of reading metaphorically, and a concluding chapter draws implications from the reading of these particular psalm and parable texts as a set.

Barbara Green believes that many people want to explore both in language and in experience the mysteries of God and our own human condition. With her exciting, imaginative style she offers help for those on that journey those interested in prayer and in a deeper access to Scripture, those working with adult parish groups, preachers of Scripture, those doing retreat work, and individuals.

Chapters are "Introduction to Metaphor in Psalm and Parable," "The Rooted Tree: Psalm 1 and Luke 13:1-9," "Stature: Psalm 8 and Luke 15:11-32," "Searching Faces: Psalm 27 and Luke 18:9-18," "Entitlement and Responsiveness: Psalm 18 and Luke 18:1-8," "The Ecosystem: Psalm 7 and Luke 16:1-9," "Shepherding: Psalm 23 and Luke 15:3-7," "The Storehouse: Psalm 39 and Luke 12:13-21," "The Other Side: Psalm 41, Luke 10:25-29," and "Conclusion."

Barbara Green, O.P., Ph.D., teaches Scripture and spirituality at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley and works with adult groups interested in deepening their spiritual commitment. She is the author of "What Profit for Us?" Remembering the Story of Joseph.