Charity and Love.

I was watching a film called Emma last night.  It was by a local writer who lived close to where I live called Jane Austin.  Emma comes from a wealthy family and it is seen as part of her lifestyle to give in charity to the poor.  She therefore frequently visits one deserving and poor family.   But then at a picnic she suddenly insults one of the members of that family and is told off in no uncertain terms by the man she falls in love with.   Then later when her father is praising her for the charity and friendship she gives to the family she humbly 0admits.   No Father, I gave them charity but not my friendship.   There is much to ponder here.   Emma saw that her charity had not been based on love but on duty.    Charity and love are not necessarily interchangeable terms.   Do we give in charity because that is what others expect of us as Christians?  To be part of the team so to speak.   Are we Catholics because the Catholic Faith is the way to end poverty in the world, do we spend our time boasting about Cafod and other charities we are involved in because this involvement makes us better than other Catholics.   Or do we see others as Emma did, poor souls who can make us feel better about ourselves.   In other words if they were not there then our faith would have little meaning since we are not fully in tune with Christ being present in our neighbour, but rather more accustomed to seeing our  role as being Christ to our neighbour.