This is how the Birth of Jesus came about; His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with Child through the Holy Spirit. Matt 1:18

In recent years, when I have gone through the births section of the paper, I have found on most occasions a full third of the babies are born out of wedlock. In this day and age, it hardly raises an eyebrow. In fact, I find it incredible that people are so concerned with homosexuals when it appears that at least 1/3, if not more of the population is fornicating. Just a generation ago, this would have been scandalous. I, myself was born at a home for unwed mothers. This was a place where young women went to have their babies, give them up for adoption, and quietly return to their lives hoping there would not be too many questions about their absence. But back in the time of Jesus, it would have been more than a scandal; Mary's engagement would have been cut off. Women, at that time were little better than property. A scandal like this would destroy her prospects for any sort of marriage leaving her an unwanted burden on her family for life. Back then, as today, could you imagine people's reaction to, "I am pregnant by the Holy Spirit?" Picture it as some gentle, quiet girl from your church suddenly becoming pregnant and telling you this. Either she is crazy, or there is something wrong with your ears.
What is apparent to me is that God did not leave this young woman to defend herself against the naysayers....of which, I might have been. It is a hard concept to swallow. He did not allow her to be scandelized or gossiped about. The people who would be most intimately aquainted with her, He told. And they accepted this truth. I have heard people say that they did not believe Mary was a virgin. Because they cannot understand the concept. Because it is easier to use their natural knowledge to understand something than accept a Miracle. And what is wrong with a miracle? Jesus performed many miracles in His Life. It is only fitting that He was the Product of an incredible one; one that over the centuries has filled the world with a sense of awe and expectation at His Coming.