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The prediction of the angel was regarding the future. Yet she wandered how it will be possible. She, too, was referring to a future impossibility. If she was referring to the present state without implying the future, there would be no question. I know not men. I smoke not. I eat not pork. All these statements refer to a chosen way of life which is not about to change.

I was thinking about this subject some more today about the belief that Mary was a specially dedicated lifelong virgin who was somehow only placed under the care of a much older man, Joseph, who did not expect a natural marriage, so that she remained a virgin her entire life. Now, putting aside the Roman Catholic Church's dogmas about this, why don't we look at it in a different light.

What came to my mind was if Mary was indeed a life-long dedicated virgin, etc., then why does the Bible not say that? There would have certainly been no shame in her doing this and Joseph would be admired for taking the mother of the Messiah under his wing to care for her. We are given instead a narrative that sounds just like a normal young couple in ancient Judaism. In Luke 1 we are told:

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

A virgin (normal for back then) pledged to be married (she was betrothed/engaged, also normal back then and it was supposed to last one year) to a man named Joseph (not her protector/benefactor, but a man), a descendant of David (he as well as Mary was descended from the lineage of King David which meant their offspring would also be heirs to the throne of David).

All we are told was that this was not unlike any number of couples who were probably in an arranged marriage (very much normal back then). So, why is there a need to invent an entirely new narrative to jive with the idea of Mary's perpetual virginity? Like I said, why, if that was God's intent, are we told what happened and nothing is said about any vows of virginity?

I, in no way am trying to denigrate Mary and Joseph, they were honorable and faithful young people who were obedient to God and through their faithfulness, they and all of mankind have been blessed by the incarnate God who came to take away the sins of the world.