Labor Day (in the USA)

Lord, give success to the work of our hands.

Each day, we bring our labor, seen and unseen, before the Lord. Whether we work in offices, classrooms, hospitals, kitchens, or care for others at home, Psalm 90 reminds us that our efforts are not just tasks, but offerings. We were made to work with God, not apart from him. In Genesis, humanity is placed in the garden not merely to survive, but to cultivate, protect, and participate in creation’s unfolding.

Today, we pause to reflect on that divine partnership. Labor is not just economic, it’s Eucharistic. In every Mass, we bring “the work of human hands” to the altar: bread and wine become body and blood. Ordinary labor becomes a sacred offering.

Psalm 90 is a humble prayer that our work be aligned with God’s purposes, and that it carries meaning beyond deadlines or results. As Jesus reminds us in today’s gospel, when we seek first the kingdom of God, everything else finds its rightful place. It reminds us that what we do each day matters, even when no one sees it.

In Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, we see a woman and mother whose quiet labor of love was pierced by suffering. And yet she remained faithful. She shows us that even in sorrow, our labor can witness to hope.

What are you building with your life? How might God be sanctifying your efforts, even in the unseen or unfinished?

Let Us Pray:

Lord of all creation, bless the work of our hands. Make our labor fruitful and rooted in love. May our daily tasks, joyful or burdensome, be united to your sacrifice and transformed at your altar. Teach us to find you in every effort, and to trust that no labor done in love is ever wasted. Amen.