Indeed, the Orthodox Church is that Pearl of Great Price, established by Christ and His Holy Apostles. But are we truly grateful for this treasure? Do we cherish it?

In America, we see many factors which are cause for scandal and turmoil among the members of the Church. We pray in the Divine Liturgy for the union of the Churches of God, yet while we entone these prayers, within our hearts we remain divided and we are not focused on Christ, but rather something else which produces rotten fruits.

A sad worldliness has crept into the Church that causes even the clergy not to be concerned with the salvation of their souls and those under their care, but rather causes them to be focused on material gain, power, and control. These things are opposed to the Gospel of Christ and crush any attempt to develop a true spiritual life. We see brother against brother going to the courts of the unbelievers. How this must grieve our Lord. Rather than being a common family united for the glorification of Christ, we become absorbed into jurisdictional disputes, legalism, and judgmentalism. This is not Orthodoxy, nor is it Christian. The first and foremost of the commandments is to love God and neighbor, but each of us fails at this daily. Many clerics are becoming more of bureaucrats and administrators rather than the servants of Christ and the heralds of His Resurrection.

What will it take to edify the Church, and to bring about the unity for which Christ prayed? First, we must remove the politics and worldliness from our minds and hearts, realizing that regardless of our 'jurisdiction' we are working not against each other but rather for a common goal and this goal is to glorify Christ and save souls.

In America, we need two things- missions and monasteries. There was a time in Russia where chapels were on almost every corner, roadside shrines were common, and people made frequent pilgrimmages to monasteries. All of this provided a standard for the life of the Church, and increased her zeal. But sadly, these things are greatly lacking in America. There is no standard for the American Orthodox to see, and many are only expressing the externals of Orthodoxy while not being moved internally by its message, and certainly not reaching their full potential in attaining the grace of the Holy Spirit.

We need monastic communities in America, not only transplants of monastics from Greece and other traditional Orthodox countries, but thriving monasteries born on American soil, that will reach out to this nation, making known the rich spiritual heritage of our Orthodox Faith. We need the development of missions and more frequent gatherings of Orthodox Christians together to learn more about their Faith together and to work together in the service of the Lord.

Orthodoxy is still seen as something foreign by many in America, but we must realize that the Orthodox Church is the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Being such, it is for all people, and it must reach out to the spiritual concerns of the American people. Orthodoxy does not adopt the culture of the people, but rather transforms the culture of the people and uplifts it.

America is in a sad decline, the youth are rotting and many are falling away from the Church. But what will we do? Are we to waste our time in infightings while our children are destroyed by the devices of the evil one? While our children decay, we argue about such petty things. Those who strive to cooperate with God's grace and aid the youth and edify the Church are often just plainly ignored or denigrated. Are we to abandon our Faith? God forbid.

The answers to all dilemmas lies in fidelity to the true teachings of our Saviour. We need more courageous individuals willing to speak out with words of edification, and willing to endure even the insults of their brethren to uplift many who are falling into a quagmire and are on the road to apostasy.

There is still hope, but let us arise, let us make haste to do the will of God!