Maria
Maria, mãe de Jesus, é honrada nas Escrituras como a mulher escolhida por Deus para trazer ao mundo o Salvador. Sua fé, humildade e obediência são exemplo para todos os cristãos.
A escolhida de Deus
O anjo Gabriel anunciou a Maria que ela seria mãe do Filho do Altíssimo. Ela respondeu com fé: 'Faça-se em mim segundo a tua palavra.'
In the sixth month of her pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to a young girl called Mary who lived in the town of Nazareth in Galilee. She was engaged to a man named Joseph.
The angel greeted her. "You are very privileged," he told her. "The Lord is with you."
"Don’t worry, Mary," the angel went on, "for God has shown his graciousness to you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You shall call him Jesus. He will be very great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never come to an end."
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah happened. His mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, but before they slept together she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
O Magnificat
Maria cantou: 'Minha alma engrandece ao Senhor!' Seu cântico exalta a misericórdia, o poder e a fidelidade de Deus.
Mary replied, "How I praise the Lord! I am so happy with God my Savior, because he decided that I, his servant, was worthy of his consideration, despite my humble background. From now on every generation will say I was blessed. God Almighty has done great things for me; his name is holy. His mercy lasts for generation after generation to those who respect him. With his power he has broken to pieces those who arrogantly think they’re so clever. He tears the powerful down from their thrones, and elevates those who are humble. He fills the hungry with good things to eat, and he sends the rich away empty-handed. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering him in mercy, just as he promised our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants for ever."
Joseph was descended from King David, so he left Nazareth in Galilee to go to Bethlehem, the city of David, in Judea. He went to register there, together with Mary, who was pledged in marriage to him and expecting a baby. While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him up in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because the inn had no rooms left.
But Mary was careful to remember all the things that had happened and often thought about them.
Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Jesus' mother Mary, "This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and many to rise. He is a sign from God that many will reject, revealing what they really think. For you it will feel like a sword piercing right through you."
His parents were totally confused when they saw what he was doing. His mother asked him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I—we’ve been worried sick! We’ve been looking everywhere for you!"
"Why is it that you were looking for me?" Jesus replied. "Didn’t you know I should be here in my Father’s house?" But they didn’t understand what he meant. Then he went back with them to Nazareth, and did what he was told. His mother kept on thinking about everything that happened.
Mãe fiel até o fim
Maria acompanhou Jesus desde o nascimento até a cruz. Ela estava entre os discípulos no Pentecostes, fiel em oração.
The wine ran out, so Jesus' mother told him, "They don’t have any more wine."
"Mother, why should you involve me? My time hasn’t come yet," he replied.
His mother told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
Standing near the cross were Jesus' mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Mother, this is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "This is your mother." From then on the disciple took her into his home.
Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. They waited outside and sent him a message, asking him to come out. The crowd that was sitting around him told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside asking for you."
"Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" he responded. Looking around at all those sitting there in a circle, he said, "Here is my mother! Here are my brothers! Whoever does what God wants, they are my brother, and sister, and mother."
Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and his brothers James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas? Don’t his sisters live here among us? So where does he get all this from?"
They all joined together in prayer, together with the women and Mary, Jesus' mother, and his brothers.