by Father Alonzo Q. Cox

Every summer my parents would take my sister and I and a few of our friends on an excursion to Coney Island.

The day would consist of two parts. The first part of the day would be spent in the amusement park, which was then called “Astroland” but now is referred to as “Luna Park.” My sister and her friends would usually venture around the park with my mom. My friends and I would go around with my father. After partaking in all of the rides and attractions, we would usually meet up on the beach, which was the second part of our day. We would bring our beach chairs and sit out on the beach until sunset. The day would not be complete, of course, until we stopped at Nathan’s for a hot dog and cheese fries.

As a kid, I always looked forward to our day in Coney Island. One of the aspects that I enjoyed the most was the actual ride out there. My family and I would always take the subway to Coney Island. We lived two blocks from the Clinton/Washington train station in Clinton Hill. We would take the A or the C train from Clinton/Washington to the Jay Street/Borough Hall station. From there, we would cross the platform to hop on the F train which would take us directly to Coney Island.

For those native Brooklynites who travel via subway, you know that the F train goes from underground to elevated after the Church Avenue stop until the very last stop, which is Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue.

I could remember as a kid making sure that I got a seat by the window as the train went from underground to outside. From the train, I could see that we were getting closer to our destination. As soon as I saw the aquarium, the ferris wheel and the parachute jump, I knew we had arrived! On the train ride back home, I would look out the window and say to myself every year, “It doesn’t get better than this!”

But it does get better than this! Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel that the kingdom of heaven is a place of joy and happiness. We again hear Jesus talking to His disciples in parables. Actually, Jesus gives them three parables in which He speaks about the hingdom of heaven.

Place of Pure Joy

The kingdom of heaven is a place of pure joy. When a person finds a treasure, they are overcome with joy. When a merchant finds a pearl of great price, they are overcome with joy. When a fisherman casts his net out into the sea and catches an abundant amount of fish, he is filled with joy. We must always keep our eyes fixed on the joys of heaven, never to lose sight of what awaits us.

We have all experienced joyful moments in our lives. We will experience even greater joy in the kingdom of heaven. As members of the mystical body of Christ, our lives are to be conformed to His. Jesus is calling us every day to radiate His love to those whom we encounter.

In today’s second reading, Paul reminds us that all things work out for the good, if we love God. As I read the newspaper and watch the news on television, I am overcome with sadness in seeing how this kingdom is inundated with war, terror and strife. But I always keep in mind the great joy that awaits us in the kingdom of heaven, where Jesus Christ reigns as ruler and king.

Let us continue to pray for one another that we will all be reunited in the heavenly kingdom, because truly, “It doesn’t get better than this!”[hr]

Readings for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time:

1 Kings 3: 5, 7-12

Psalm 119: 57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130

Romans 8: 28-30

Matthew 13: 44-52 or 44-46[hr]

Father Alonzo Q. Cox is the parochial vicar at St. Clare Church, Rosedale, and the diocesan coordinator of Black Catholic Concerns.