May You Always Be Satisfied
Hamilton & the Gospel | Part 3 of 6
In honor of our nation’s 250th anniversary, I want to share a few devotions based on the hit Broadway musical Hamilton. Throughout this musical, we can look at the life of Alexander Hamilton and see themes of faith, forgiveness, grace, and redemption; and we can make connections to the gospel message.
Philippians 4:10-13; 18-20 (NRSV):
I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. 11 Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress.
I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
One of the songs in the musical Hamilton is a song entitled “Satisfied.” It is probably the most complex song in the entire show. It starts off with Angelica Schuyler offering a toast at her sister Eliza’s wedding to “The 10 Dollar Founding Father” Alexander Hamilton. Angelica sings:
“A toast to the groom! To the bride!
From your sister who is always by your side.
To your union. And the hope that you provide.
May you always be satisfied.”
And when Angelica sings that last word satisfied… the musical stops in its tracks, and then suddenly everything starts to rewind back to the night that Angelica and Eliza first met Alexander Hamilton. When Angelica and Hamilton first meet, Hamilton flirts with Angelica as he introduces himself saying:
“You strike me as a woman who has never been satisfied...”
“You’re like me. I’m never satisfied… I have never been satisfied.”
My mind immediately goes to Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones singing, “I can’t get no, satisfaction. And I try. I try. And I try. O I try.” I also think of Bono from the band U2 singing, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” These songs tap into this idea of what it is like to always be searching for more.
According to Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator and star of Hamilton, the song “Satisfied” is inspired from a real letter that Angelica had written to Alexander Hamilton. The letter said, “You are happy my dear friend to find consolation in ‘words and thoughts.’ I cannot be so easily satisfied.”
Soon after their meeting, Angelica sees that her sister Eliza has also taken notice of Hamilton. And she sees that Eliza has fallen so deep in love that she is absolutely “Helpless.” She has fallen head over heels in love with Hamilton. Angelica ends up introducing Eliza and Hamilton to one another. And Eliza and Hamilton get married. But, during this rewind, we come to find out that Angelica is also in love with Hamilton. She sings:
“But when I fantasize at night, It’s Alexander’s eyes
As I romanticize what might have been if I hadn’t sized him up so quickly.
At least my dear Eliza’s his wife, At least I keep his eyes in my life…”
Hamilton and Angelica had a very interesting relationship. According to historian Ron Chernow, “Theirs was a friendship of unusual ardor, and it seems plausible that Hamilton would have proposed to Angelica, not Eliza, if the older sister had been eligible. Angelica was more Hamilton’s counterpart than Eliza.” Tragically, Angelica ends her song quietly singing to herself saying:
“He will never be satisfied. I will never be satisfied.”
Angelica Schuyler pushes away her feelings for Alexander Hamilton, for the sake of her sister. And in doing so, she realizes that she, herself, will never be satisfied. Throughout the musical, we also get the sense that Alexander Hamilton never really gets to a point in his life where he feels satisfied. We never really see him find a place of contentment. He is constantly writing and working in order to achieve more. In fact, one of the lyrics that is repeated throughout the musical are characters asking Hamilton the question, “Why do you write like you’re running out of time?”
There is a sense in which we, as Christians, are all called to be dissatisfied. There are things in our country and in our world that are not the way that God originally intended them to be. As Christians, we are called to be dissatisfied with the injustice and racism that we see in our daily lives, on the news, and on social media.
In the baptismal vows of the United Methodist Church, we are called to “renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world” and “resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.” God is calling us to be dissatisfied with the ways in which oppression and violence are taking place in our world.
There is also a sense in which God is calling us to a certain understanding of what it means to be content. The Apostle Paul addresses this idea in his letter to the Church in Philippi. Paul is writing these words to the Philippians from a Roman prison. And yet, throughout this book, and especially in chapter four, Paul says that he is “rejoicing in the Lord.” In fact, toward the beginning of chapter four Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.”
The theologian David Bartlett writes, “The fact that Paul can live and write joyfully in the midst of dire circumstances highlights the distinction between happiness and joy. The United States was founded to give people the right to pursue happiness; the Gospel invites people to receive the gift of joy.”
Paul shares that he has learned to be content no matter what the circumstances. Paul says he knows what it is like to have little and to have plenty. He knows what it is like to be well-fed and to go hungry. He knows what it is like to have plenty and to be in need. He says that he is “fully satisfied.”
I think that Paul is such an interesting character in the Bible, because in many ways, he actually reminds me of Alexander Hamilton. For example, Hamilton was known for “writing all the time.” Likewise, the Apostle Paul is responsible for writing 13 of the 27 books in the New Testament. Hamilton was known for seeking freedom from the oppression of the British Government. The Apostle Paul was known for preaching about the freedom that is found in Christ. Hamilton was known for constantly being on the move and working “Non-Stop.” The Apostle Paul was known for his three missionary journeys, where he traveled across the ancient world.
But the big difference between these characters is centered around this theme of satisfaction. Later in the musical, Alexander Hamilton has a conversation with his wife, Eliza. And Eliza is trying desperately to get him to find satisfaction. She sings:
“Look around. Look around
At how lucky we are to be alive right now…
We don’t need a legacy. We don’t need money.
If I could grant you peace of mind… That would be enough.”
Hamilton seems like he will never be satisfied. The Apostle Paul, however, has found complete satisfaction. Paul has found joyful contentment in every circumstance, because of his relationship with God. Paul says, “I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied.”
As we think about the story of Alexander Hamilton; And as we think about the example of the Apostle Paul; We can think about our own lives as well. We can ask the question: To whom are you more like? Do you relate more to Alexander Hamilton? Are you never satisfied? Or do you relate more to the Apostle Paul? Are you content in whatever the circumstances?
It’s true. There is tension in our lives when it comes to this idea of dissatisfaction and satisfaction. God is calling us to be content in God’s love for us, but God is also calling us to be dissatisfied with the evil and injustice in our world. God is calling us to be content in our relationship with God, but God is also calling us to the process of sanctification, where we are called to become more and more like Christ. Perhaps God is inviting us, much like Eliza invited Hamilton, to:
“Look around. Look around
At how lucky we are to be alive right now”
Even though we experience grief and pain, we can still find contentment in God’s love and grace that is extravagantly poured out on our lives. We are called to find contentment, and we can look to the example of the Apostle Paul who says: “I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
One of my favorite prayers in our Methodist tradition is the Wesley Covenant Prayer. To me, this prayer perfectly captures the essence of what it means to be satisfied. The prayer says:
“I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”
