“So, by default, Catholics aren’t serious scriptural scholars, in your opinion.”
.
The roman Catholic Church is caught up in seeking justification for their completely unscriptural deification of Mary, and use practically every mention of a woman toward that end.
It is very clear that the term “Woman” in Genesis refers to Israel, and the parallels throughout the rest of scriptures mesh perfectly with that understandsing.
Mary is of no particular importance in scripture beyond her carrying of the child into the world. Subsequent to that, she became the epitome of the average Jewish woman, including the bearing of at least five, and more likely seven additional children. There is no mention of Mary whatsoever after Pentecost, as her job had been completed.
.
Straw man alert! Neither Catholic nor Orthodox believe that Mary is a "goddess," contrary to the longstanding claim of too many "Reformed" Christians.
Yet, despite the fact that she’s “of no particular importance beyond carrying her child into the world” the Holy Spirit wanted Mary to experience the Pentecost. Surely she is more important than you say. Why does the Holy Spirit mention her by name as a member in the room? This one fact makes her more important than you stated. Now add in all the other things we know, through Holy Spirit inspired Scripture, about Mary. She matters a great deal.
Mary is a stumbling block for so many. She is foreshadowed in the Old Testament: see Ex 25: 10-16 and Luke 1: 38-41, 56.
Mary had no other children. Brothers is a word also used for cousins. In Acts 1: 12-15 we see that J. had over 100 “brothers.” Four men are named as “brothers of the Lord” but we know that two of them (James and Joseph) were actually sons of Mary, the wife of Cleophas (Mt. 27:56, John 19: 25). In Genesis 29:15 Laban calls his uncle Jacob his “brother.” This is a common usage of the word for relatives. In John 20: 17-18, we see that “brethren” is used to mean disciples.
It’s really an illogical stretch, when one considers all these facts, to insist that Jesus had brothers who were sons of his mother Mary.
I see Mary as the Abraham of the New Testament.