Today we celebrate the feast of the parents of Mary the mother of God. We actually know very little of either of them although, of course, there are many legends which have grown up over the years. At one point in Jesus' public life a woman calls out to him shouting blessings on the mother who produced such a wonderful son. Today we do the same in celebrating the parents of Mary. People who produced such a wonderful daughter must have been very special parents and that is what we celebrate today. Both the First Reading and the Gospel remind us of the blessings that come to all those who have come in close contact with Jesus and his Mother. It is a time for us, too, to express our thanks to God and to all those - family members and others - who have brought blessings into our lives.