Elizabeth of Hungary, Princess, 1231

The Collect:

Rite I:
Almighty God, by whose grace thy servant Elizabeth of Hungary recognized and honored Jesus in the poor of this world: Grant that we, following her example, may with love and gladness serve those in any need or trouble, in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Rite II:
Almighty God, by your grace your servant Elizabeth of Hungary recognized and honored Jesus in the poor of this world: Grant that we, following her example, may with love and gladness serve those in any need or trouble, in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Tobit 12:8–10

⁸Prayer with fasting is good, but better than both is almsgiving with righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than wealth with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold. ⁹For almsgiving saves from death and purges away every sin. Those who give alms will enjoy a full life. ¹⁰but those who commit sin and do wrong are their own worst enemies.

Psalm: Psalm 112

¹ Hallelujah!
Happy are they who fear the Lord *
and have great delight in his commandments!
² Their descendants will be mighty in the land; *
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
³ Wealth and riches will be in their house, *
and their righteousness will last for ever.
⁴ Light shines in the darkness for the upright; *
the righteous are merciful and full of compassion.
⁵ It is good for them to be generous in lending *
and to manage their affairs with justice.
⁶ For they will never be shaken; *
the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance.
⁷ They will not be afraid of any evil rumors; *
their heart is right;
they put their trust in the Lord.
⁸ Their heart is established and will not shrink, *
until they see their desire upon their enemies.
⁹ They have given freely to the poor, *
and their righteousness stands fast for ever;
they will hold up their head with honor.
¹⁰ The wicked will see it and be angry;
they will gnash their teeth and pine away; *
the desires of the wicked will perish.

Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 

⁷ Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.

⁸ I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. ⁹ For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. ¹⁰ And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something— ¹¹ now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. ¹² For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. ¹³ I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between ¹⁴ your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. ¹⁵ As it is written,

‘The one who had much did not have too much,
    and the one who had little did not have too little.’

Gospel: Luke 12:32–34

³² ‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ³³Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

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