The Christian understanding of work

By Fr Stephan Alexander
General Manager, CCSJ and AMMR

In Trinidad and Tobago, Labour Day—commemorated each year on June 19—is far more than a national holiday. It is a solemn remembrance of the sacrifices of workers who, in 1937, stood up against oppressive conditions and systemic exploitation, sparking the historic Fyzabad Riots.
It is a day rooted in protest, resilience, and the pursuit of justice. The annual march, led by trade unions and workers through the streets of Fyzabad, is both a tribute to that legacy and a continued call to uphold the dignity of every worker.

As a nation shaped by colonialism and the struggle for fair labour, we are uniquely positioned to reflect deeply on the meaning of work. For Christians, this reflection goes beyond historical or political analysis.
Work is not only an economic activity but a spiritual reality. The Church affirms that every human being, created in the image and likeness of God, is called to participate in God’s creative purpose through work.

The Christian understanding of labour is not confined to what we do but rooted in who we are. From the opening chapters of Genesis, we see that humanity was created not for idleness but for meaningful activity: to cultivate, to care, and to contribute.

Work was not introduced as a punishment, but as a natural expression of our vocation to steward the earth and serve one another (Gen 2:15).
Jesus Christ Himself dignified work by living as a carpenter in Nazareth. He did not simply speak to the working class—He was one of them. His hidden years of manual labour remind us that no honest task done in love is ever wasted or insignificant. By working with His hands, Christ lifted the veil from the ordinariness of labour and revealed its sacred dimension.

This view is echoed throughout Catholic Social Teaching. In various papal documents—from Rerum Novarum to Laborem Exercens—the Church insists that work is for the person, not the person for work.
The human being must never be reduced to a mere instrument of production or a line item on a balance sheet. Rather, the worker is a subject, not an object: a person endowed with dignity, worthy of fair wages, just conditions, and meaningful participation in society.

This teaching is not only timeless but deeply relevant in our context. In a world where job security is fragile, underemployment widespread, and exploitation still present—particularly among informal and migrant workers—the Church’s voice must remain prophetic. To stand for the dignity of work is to stand against all forms of injustice that treat workers as disposable or invisible.

Yet we must also acknowledge that not all forms of work are economic. The unpaid labour of caregiving, the mental labour of study, and the spiritual labour of prayer are equally valid expressions of human dignity.
A mother raising children, a student preparing for exams, a retiree mentoring the young—each contributes to the flourishing of our society in ways that may not be captured by GDP but are precious in the eyes of God.

Labour also builds community. Through it, we express solidarity, meet each other’s needs, and weave the fabric of the common good. This is why the Gospel calls us not only to work but to work for one another, with a sense of justice, compassion, and shared responsibility.
As we mark Labour Day, we are invited not only to remember our past but to imagine a future where all forms of just work—visible and unseen, paid and unpaid—are honoured.

A future where economic systems serve people, not the other way around. And a future where faith and work are not separate but deeply intertwined.
May we never forget that our work, whatever form it takes, can be sanctified. When offered with love, carried out with integrity, and directed toward the good of others, it becomes a true participation in the redemptive mission of Christ.

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Prayer for the Sanctification of Work
O God, the creator of all things, You framed the law of labour for the human race. Graciously grant, by the example and patronage of St Joseph, that we may do the work You provide us and earn the reward You promise.
Sustain us with Your grace to live up to our duties in charity and justice. Amen.