Solar Plexus
Greetings on this the Thursday of the First Week in Lent
Readings: Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25; Psalm 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8; Matthew 7:7-12
Summary
A clean heart create for me, O God;
give me back the joy of your salvation (Psalm 51:12a, 14a).
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you (Matt 7:7-8).
Reflection
Ultimately Joy is a state of being. Beyond mere feels and beyond intense emotion, joy is a type of equilibrium that requires no adjustment and no need beyond remaining in itself.
Our psalmist describes it as a clean heart. In ancient times and even today we say the heart is the center of the person. Today, we think of it as the heart muscle as the heart of a human and that is fine thinking. Actually, for the ancients, it is the area of the solar plexus as these two nerve bundles regulate the sensory stress response and the regulation of vital GI organ. When your solar plexus is calm you have no stress sensations and your GI system is running fine.
Our psalmist isn’t getting at anatomical and health truth but the essential truth. Our peace comes from the Divine One. Our solar plexus informs us of our State of Being. Salvation brings joy. You may think of salvation as forgiveness and establishing a right relation with one another and with the Divine.
What is your solar plexus telling you?
Personal Reflection
So Jesus advises us, we are loved. Let us then have the confidence to be bold is our outreach.
- Ask Questions. Establish a dialog with the Divine (prayer) and also with those who you have offended (forgiveness – our daily bread).
- Seek Reconciliation. How can I change the reality to be more just? (alms giving – our fish).
- Knock on doors you’ve thought closed. Be the change. Knock on doors that seem closed. You’ll be happy to have the door opened to the good.
The Good Things
Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread,
or a snake when he asked for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things
to those who ask him (MT 7:9-11).
Solar Plexus video: https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-the-solar-plexus-definition-function-location.html
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031325.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry