“Beneficence may exist without benevolence, arising from a sense of duty, not from sympathy or compassion. It may be a charity of the hand rather than of the heart. There is an apparent beneficence which has no connection either with right principle or right feeling, as when we throw alms to a beggar, not to relieve him of his distress, but ourselves of his importunity of the pain of beholding him.”
Horace Smith (1779-1849) English writer in Day’s Collacon compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 66.
Since Lent is a time to practice Christian generosity, we must start by asking what God cares about linked to giving? He looks at what’s going on inside us and desires to see cheerful giving motivated by love for our neighbor and those in need (cf. John 10:25-37; 2 Corinthians 9:7).
So let’s evaluate our giving honestly. In Smith’s terms, do we practice beneficence (from the hand) or benevolence (from the heart)? Do we give to assuage our guilt or to show God’s love? Do we give to try to make problems go away? When we choose to extend charity from the heart, it does not result in God loving us more. So what happens when we extend such divine charity? People see and feel God’s love through us!
Father, fill our hearts with your love this Lent. Teach us to extend charity from the heart toward our neighbor and the needy around us. Help us serve those in distress, so we do not miss out on the opportunity to show the world your love and generosity. Do this we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.