Luke1
18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” 19 The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.”
John the Baptists dad was not able to believe Gabriel. Faith in Christ could not enter the world by him
Mary is favored(Grace) and because of that, she can believe. Through her, faith in Christ enters the world.
Luke1
34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
These two accounts are remarkably similar. One might even ask how they differ so much that Zacharias response is punished and Mary's is a model faith.
Luke1
And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
Faith is through hearing. Hearing the Word of God. The sound of God's Word was carried by the Voice of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth's ear and the miracle of Faith through hearing begins.
A hidden community of faith in Christ grew among family, friends and whoever else the Father revealed the Incarnation too.
Hidden because no one but God could reveal a virgin birth and be believed. Because of that no one can come to Christ unless the Father draws them. And He did. Mysterious people like the man carrying a pitcher of water that led them to the upper room and the owner of the room, the guy casting out demons in Jesus name who wasn't recognized by the Apostle's, are people that the Father revealed Jesus to during His private life.