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.'
And in the sixth month the messenger Gabriel was sent by God, to a city of Galilee, the name of which [is] Nazareth, to a virgin, betrothed to a man, whose name [is] Joseph, of the house of David, and the name of the virgin [is] Mary. And the messenger having come in to her, said, "Greetings, favored one, the LORD [is] with you; blessed [are] you among women";
And the messenger said to her, "Do not fear, Mary, for you have found favor with God; and behold, you will conceive in the womb, and will bring forth a Son, and call His Name Jesus; He will be great, and He will be called Son of the Highest, and the LORD God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob for all ages; and of His kingdom there will be no end."
And of Jesus Christ, the birth was thus: for His mother Mary having been betrothed to Joseph, before their coming together she was found to have conceived from the Holy Spirit,
O Magnificat
Maria cantou: 'Minha alma engrandece ao Senhor!' Seu cântico exalta a misericórdia, o poder e a fidelidade de Deus.
And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the LORD, And my spirit was glad on God my Savior, Because He looked on the lowliness of His maidservant, || For behold, from now on all the generations will call me blessed, For He who is mighty did great things to me, || And holy [is] His Name, And His kindness [is] to generations of generations, || To those fearing Him; He did powerfully with His arm, || He scattered abroad the proud in the thought of their heart, He brought down the mighty from thrones, || And He exalted the lowly, He filled the hungry with good, || And the rich He sent away empty; He has taken hold of His servant Israel, || To remember kindness, As He spoke to our fathers, || To Abraham and to his seed—throughout the age."
and Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, that is called Beth-Lehem, because of his being of the house and family of David, to register himself with Mary his betrothed wife, being with Child. And it came to pass, in their being there, the days were fulfilled for her bringing forth, and she brought forth her Son—the firstborn, and wrapped Him up, and laid Him down in the manger, because there was not a place for them in the guest-chamber.
and Mary was preserving all these things, pondering [them] in her heart;
and Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary, "Behold, this [One] is set for the falling and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against— (and also a sword will pass through your own soul)—that the reasonings of many hearts may be revealed."
And having seen Him, they were amazed, and His mother said to Him, "Child, why did You do this to us? Behold, Your father and I, sorrowing, were seeking You." And He said to them, "Why [is it] that you were seeking Me? Did you not know that it is necessary for Me to be in the things of My Father?" And they did not understand the saying that He spoke to them, and He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and He was subject to them, and His mother was keeping all these sayings in her heart,
Mãe fiel até o fim
Maria acompanhou Jesus desde o nascimento até a cruz. Ela estava entre os discípulos no Pentecostes, fiel em oração.
and wine having failed, the mother of Jesus says to Him, "They have no wine"; Jesus says to her, "What [is that] to Me and to you, woman? My hour is not yet come." His mother says to the servants, "Whatever He may say to you—do."
And there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary of Cleopas, and Mary the Magdalene; Jesus, therefore, having seen [His] mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He was loving, He says to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son"; afterward He says to the disciple, "Behold, your mother"; and from that hour the disciple took her to his own [home].
Then His brothers and mother come, and standing outside, they sent to Him, calling Him, and a multitude was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers seek You outside." And He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?" And having looked around in a circle to those sitting around Him, He says, "Behold, My mother and My brothers! For whoever may do the will of God, he is My brother, and My sister, and mother."
Is this not the carpenter’s Son? Is His mother not called Mary, and His brothers James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And His sisters—are they not all with us? From where, then, to this One all these?"
these were all continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication, with women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.