Though we all know that Jesus is God, as a human He also got upset and at times very angry. So my question is - is it a sin to lose your temper and do we need to go to confession when we do? -Maria Wood
The CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church - you have to get one and read it) tells us that anger is an emotion that is not wrong/sinful in itself (and thank God b/c I'm always getting angry...although that's probably not good) It becomes sinful when someone allows the feelings of anger to come out in unhealthy ways (like hitting things - or saying things to others in angry tone - saying things about others to get revenge for what they have done/said to us). Jesus did express anger in the Temple when overturned the tables - this would be righteous anger because he saw how God's house (Temple) was being misused and this caused him to be angry and to express that anger. The big difference between His anger and ours is that he gets angry for good reasons (b/c His Father's house was being desecrated) - Jesus motivation for anger is that the Father is not being given his proper props.. Good question and it can be difficult to determine when anger is just an emotion that is not wrong and when we cross the line by acting on that emotion in unhealthy/sinful ways.. Read the Gospel of John 2:13-16 about Jesus in the Temple...
Pax Christi..
FJ
