Look at it this way.
If everything the Catholic church claims about Mary were true, there’d be no surprise at what happened, people would have know it, would have been expecting it, would then have recognized Jesus as the Messiah based on Mary’s testimony. the wise men would not have had to seek for the birth of Jesus cause everyone would have been talking about it. There’d really be nothing to admire about Mary and what she experienced as it would have been expected.
OTOH, looking at Mary as a normal, sinful peasant girl growing up in small town Israel, there is a LOT to admire about her.
First off she comes up pregnant. OK. She’s engaged to be married and she’s pregnant before she’s suppose to be. Now she needs to tell her parents and Joseph and I can just imagine the conversation.
Mary: Um, Mom, Dad, I don’t know how to tell you this. But I’m pregnant.
Them: You’re WHAT? Pregnant? Really? So you and Joseph just couldn’t wait?
Mary: Well, it’s not like that.....
Them: Oh, it’s not? Is Joseph not the father?
Mary: Well, no.......
Them: Well, who is it then?
Mary: Um. It’s God. You see, I was outside and this angel came.....
Them: WHAT?!?!?! GOD?!?!?! An angel? You expect us to believe that? Do you expect ANYONE to believe that? You could get stoned for adultery, you know.
Mary: Yes, I know. I’ve thought about it a lot. But still, an angel came and told me that I would become pregnant by the Spirit and would bear the Messiah.
Them: YOU? Why would it be you? We’re not anyone special.
What are the neighbors going to think? How can we, how can you, show your face in public again? Have you told Joseph yet?
Mary: Well, no, not yet. I need to but am not sure how he’ll take it. I’m not sure he’ll believe me. He may decide to not marry me after all.
Fast forward to Joseph and repeat conversation.......
Mary risked EVERYTHING to carry the Messiah. She risked her marriage, her reputation, and her life. I doubt there’s a person around who believed that she was pregnant without sex. They knew how babies were made. And yes, every girl probably wanted to have the honor of being chosen to be the mother of the Messiah.
But just who would believe her story, really?
It took a girl of strong faith and character to be willing to do that no matter what others said about her, for almost the rest of her life.
Joseph knew the baby wasn’t his but everyone else, I’ll bet except her parents, thought it was Joseph’s. That’s why Jesus was referred to as the carpenter’s son. Even His own family didn’t believe Him and it’s recorded in Scripture that they came after Him to take Him home cause they thought he lost His mind.
So virgin birth? Are you KIDDING us?
All of this is true.Joseph was like what.But an Angel appeared to him.
Whoa! Jesus left the rock tomb without rolling away the stone. The Holy Spirit could just as easily brought Jesus from Mary’s womb without using the birth canal. It would be good to keep that in mind when contemplating Mary’s ‘condition’ to sustain he vows to Joseph.
Virtually 99.9999999999 of all Christians believe in the virgin birth of Christ..........but I'm certain that you have figured it out............oh brother, ....sigh.