Our Venerable Mother Euphrosyne.
Ephesians 1:1-9; Mark 7:24-30.
Read Mark 7:24-30
Great leaders are often remembered not only for their victories, but for how they listened and learned. Abraham Lincoln, for example, was praised for his ability to hear people out, even critics, and grow stronger by doing so. In Mark 7:24–30, Jesus encounters a foreign woman whose persistence becomes a lesson in leadership for us all. We can remember it through the word LEAD.
L – Listen deeply. The Syrophoenician woman comes begging for her daughter’s healing. At first, Jesus seems to refuse. But she persists. Leaders must listen past appearances, past their own assumptions, to hear the truth of another’s cry.
E – Engage with humility. She does not argue arrogantly but engages with faith, saying, “Even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” True leadership doesn’t crush others; it recognizes and respects humility.
A – Affirm faith. Jesus marvels at her response and affirms it: “For saying this, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” Leaders notice and uplift faith wherever it is found, even outside expected circles.
D – Deliver results. The story concludes not with words but with action: her daughter is healed. Leadership that listens, engages, and affirms must also deliver what is needed.
In this encounter, Jesus reveals a kingdom wider than ethnic or national borders, and the woman teaches us that persistence and humility can move the heart of God.
So when you face cries for help—in your family, your parish, or your community—remember to LEAD: Listen deeply, Engage with humility, Affirm faith, and Deliver results. Follow Christ’s example, and you too will lead not by conquest, but by compassion.