Sunlen serfaty is there and she joins us now live. Sunlen . Incredibly moving moment already, seen just moments ago, the entire biden family arrived just outside of the church and wait painfully with each step as beau bidens casket was slowly and delicately brought into this church. It was first draped in a red, white and Blue American flag. Delicately folded. The entire family making their way into the funeral. We will hear not only this musical selection, but we also will hear from chris martin the lead singer of coldplay. He will sing during the course of the funeral, were told that he was a Favorite Singer of beau biden. The family apparently did not ask coldplays lead singer to come out directly. He found out from a family friend volunteered to come here for this funeral today. Certainly will be an emotional moment throughout the funeral as well as the eulogy of president obama. He took a very personal role in writing those remarks. Sunlen thank you very much. Lets go back to the service now. A tent should be destroyed. We have a building from god. A dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven. We are always courageous. Although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. Yet, we are courageous. The word of the lord. Thanks be to god. Lord alleluia alleluia alleluia the lord be with you. And with your spirit. A reading from the holy gospel according to john. Glory to you, lord. Now when jesus came to bethany. He found that lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near jerusalem, about two miles off. And many of the jews had come to martha and mary to console them concerning their brother. When martha heard that jesus was coming she went and met him. While mary sat in the house. Martha said to jesus, lord if you had been here my brother would not have died. And even now i know that whatever you ask from god, god will give you. Jesus said to her your brother will rise again. Martha said to him, i know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said to her i am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me though the person die, yet shall the person live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this she said to him . Yes, lord. I believe that you are the christ the son of god, who is coming into the world. The gospel of the lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Hallie dearest natalie and hunter. Joe and jill. Hunter and Kathleen Ashley and howard. Your eminence Cardinal Mccarrick your excellency bishop egan. And your excellency bishop malully. Reverend wright rabbi beals, reverend beamen reverend jones, president obama, general odierno, the many other dignitaries and Public Servant who is are here, dear friends all. The reaction has been universal. Whether you were a friend of beau bidens or knew him only from the press, how sad. How very, very sad. Its heartbreaking. When i heard the news i wept. This great young man, this spl splendid son, this devoted deeply loving husband and father as true a brother as anyone could ever have this peerlessly patriotic Public Servant, gone. Gone. Gone. It was, is like the night of good friday. The one we hoped in counted on thought our future has been taken from us. How do you say goodbye to the finest man any of us have ever known . First i think we face the loss. The fact that we have lost the handsome winning humble presence of an incomparable gift. Is the richness of that gift is the measure of our grief. The nobler a man is the more he is praised and even revered. But the truly noble man, the righteous man of the book of wisdom knows that the one to be praised and indeed worshipped is not himself, but his creator. The ground and goal of his life. For all his sense of responsibility and commitment he knows that he did not invent himself, but was given life and a world to fulfill it in by a loving lord. Only at the end of the life can he or his lord or indeed any of us make a full accounting of its achievement. Whether young or old that are dying, it is only then that we can say of the life we have been given and of all those, we have loved within the gift take it now, lord. It was your gift all my family and friends and Public Service were your gift as well. Take them now. Take them now. And enfold them in your mercy, lead us home. You alone know fully the grace that accompany your gift. As surely as beau biden knelt at night to fray with his wife and children whether in these words or some like them he knew the words of jesus on the cross. Father into thigh hands i commit my spirit. Words that are offered to all of us to share on the good fridays of our lives. Whether in prolonged suffering like beaus or in the gradual diminishment of age, our mortal lives are gifts that must pass through the darkness of death if they are to know the splendor of eternity. In this sense, death is not extinguishing the light as the great indian poet wrote, it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come. Or in the words of paul we hope that even if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from god, a house not made with hands. Beaus life of giving to his fellow citizens and above all to his family was dazzling as a young lawyer working for the Justice Department in philadelphia and also in wartorn kosovo as a member of the Delaware Army national guard, and a major in the judge advocate general corps, as attorney general of delaware for going to run for the United States senate because he felt it his duty to continue his mission to protect children from abuse. The watch words were honor. Courage. Integrity. My own favorite picture shows him standing before his father at an american base near baghdad on july 4th 2009 midway through his deployment in iraq. The two men known for the warmth of their smiles are close to grim. A sense of danger and possibly worse hangs over the crewcut son in fatigues looking into the eyes of the earnest father. There is no limit to what the protection of life may entail. Nor was there for jesus. If all of life is ultimately gift how was he the gift that would redeem and fulfill the gift of our creation. How did god give us this son to reveal gods vision of the world and lead the world to god. I would prefer not to say that god give us the son to die for us. What father could possibly envisage that. Rather god gave us the son, gods own word and our flesh to live with and for us. God gave us jesus to preach the kingdom among us. A reign of reciprocity, forgiveness, healing and fulfillment. If that mission led to violent rejection by authorities, civil and religious, whom it threatened. So be it. Jesus would not turn back. He remained true to his word and the very deepest sense. Even to the cross. Which made it possible for god once and forever to reveal the power of his forgiving love over even the cruelest death. Death is so often cruel. We feel that today, when all is silence. Feelings are muted, grief and mourning overtake everything. But was gone. But from our immediate vision only. For we live now, not only after good friday and through holy saturday but in easter. And here is beaus great final gift to us. Promising as he most assuredly was, his death calls us to hear again, that the gift of life entails. It is the promise first given do the jewish people that their god would never fail them. But would be faithful to them forever. It is the promise spoken by jesus to martha of bethany, after the death of her brother, lazarus. I am the resurrection and the life whoever believes in me though the person dies, yet shall the person live. In jesus christ writes st. Paul it is always yes. For all the promises of god find their yes in him. That is why we utter the amen through him, to the glory of god. In a few moments in our eucharistic prayer we will recall this mystery of our redemption. The fulfillment of the promise that attended creation from its beginning and courses through it still in the holy spirit. And for us in a special way, it becomes the promise of union with beau in the communion of saints. Now and one day forever. We pray to be united now and one day forever. With a remarkable man for whom belief was not simply a view of life but engaged love. Not merely confession but commitment. Not only a generalous life but the search for justice that makes friendship possible. For many of its saints the Catholic Church celebrates their feast on the day of the saints death. The day of final union with god. Through christ and in the holy spirit. I have little doubt that in this sense may 30th 2015 is a feast day for everyone here. We may be weeping, and may weep more. But thanks to beau this is also a time of almost unlimited grace. I pray for all of us that the gift and promise of his life may deepen our love and faith and hope in god, and in one another in god. Be acceptable to god, the almighty father. [ praying ] as we humbly present to you these sacrificial offerings, oh lord for the salvation of your servant, beau we submit your mercy that he did not doubt your son to be a loving savior my find in him merciful judge who lives and reigns forever and ever, amen. The lord be with you. And with your spirit. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the lord. Let us give thanks to the lord our god. It is right and just. It is truly right and just our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks lord holy father almighty and eternal god, through christ our lord. In him the hope of blessed resurrection has dawned. That those saddened by the certainty of dying might be consoled by the promise of immortality to come. Indeed for your faithful lord life has changed, not ended. And when this earthly dwelling turns to dust and eternal dwelling is made ready in heaven. And so with angels and arc angels and thrones and dominions and with all the hosts and powers of heaven we sing the hymn of your glory, as without end we acclaim holy holy holy lord god above heaven and earth are full of your glory ailhosanna hosanna in the highest blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord hosanna hosanna in the highest you are indeed holy oh lord and all you have created rightly gives you praise. For through your son our Lord Jesus Christ that the power and working of the holy spirit you gave life to all things. And made them holy. And you never cease to gather a people to yourself so that from the rising of the sun to its setting a pure sacrifice may be offered to your name. Therefore, oh lord we humbly implore you, by the same spirit graciously make holy these gifts we have brought to you for consecration. So that they may become the body and blood of your son, our Lord Jesus Christ at whose command we celebrate these mysteries. For on the night he was betrayed he himself took bread, and giving you thanks he said the blessing broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying take this all of you, and eat of it. For this is my body which will be given up for you. In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice, and giving you thanks he said the blessing and gave the chalice to his disciple saying take this all of you and drink from it for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant. Which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me. The mystery of our faith. Therefore, oh lord as we celebrate the memorial of his saving passion, his wondrous resurrection and ascension into heaven and as we look forward to his Second Coming we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice. Look we pray upon the oblation of your church recognizing the sacrificial victim by whose death, you will reconcile us to yourself. Grant that we are nourished by the body and blood of your son, may be filled with his holy spirit. And become one body one spirit in christ. May he make of us an eternal offering to you, so that we may obtain an inheritance, especially with the most Blessed Virgin Mary mother of god, with your blessed apostles and glorious martyrs, with anthony and all the saints on whose constant intercession in your presence we rely for daily help. May this sacrifice of our reconciliation we pray oh lord advance the peace and salvation of all the world. Please to confirm in faith and charity your Pilgrim Church on earth with your servant, francis, our pope francis our bishop the order of bishops, all the clergy and the entire people you have gained for your own. Remember your servant, beau whom you have called from this world to yourself. Grant that he is united with your son, to a death like his. May he also be one with him in his rest election. Resurrection. When from the earth he will race up the flesh, in the flesh, those who have died and transform our lowly body after the pattern of his own glorious body. To our departed brothers and sisters, too, and to all who are pleasing to you in their passing from this life give kind admittance in your kingdom. There we hope to enjoy forever, the fullness of your glory. When you will wipe away every tear from our eyes. For seeing you, our god, as you are, we shall be like you, for all the ages and praise you without end, through christ our lord to whom you bestow on the world all that is good. Through him, and with him and in him, oh god almighty father in the unity of the holy spirit all glory and honor is yours, forever and ever. Amen amen amen let us pray now as the lord himself taught us. Our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses. As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Deliver us oh lord we pray from every evil. Graciously grant peace in our days. That by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress. As we await the blessed hope and the coming of our savior jesus christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. Lord jesus christ you said to your apostles peace i leave you. My peace i give you. Look not on our sins but on the faith of your church and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. Who live and reign forever and ever amen. Peace of the lord be always with you. And with your spirit. Lets share with one another the sign of the lords peace. Lamb of god you take away the sins of the world lamb of god you take away the sin of the world have mercy on us lamb of god you take away the sin of the world grant us peace are blessed to be called to his table. Lord i am not worthy but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. For commune there will be stations in the front of the church in the middle and in the back. If you wish to receive communion, please come forward through the central aisle and return to your seats by the side aisles. If you do not wish to receive communion, but would like to receive a blessing which we greatly encourage, please come forward with your hands folded ott your chest to receive the blessing. I once was lost but now am found was blind but now i see youre watching the Funeral Service for beau biden, the son of Vice President joe biden. Beau passed away age 30th at the age of 46 after battling brain cancer. The service is going into the delivery of communion now. So its a moment where we can talk with some guests who are with us and joining me Allen Lichtman president ial historian and distinguished professor at american university. Cnn senior political analyst, Ron Brownstein the editorial director of the National Journal in washington and larry sabato the director of the center for politics at the university in virginia in charlottesville. Ron, let me start with you. I take it with the president who will be delivering the eulogy. This becomes much more than just a delaware event. It is a national moment. Yeah. And i think it has been. I mean i am struck by the reaction of the story and its partly because i think everybody who knew him felt that beau biden was a very admirable and warm person. Think there are two other things that have elevated attention on this. One is that he was someone, he grew up the son of a senator and that opened certain doors for you in life. But he was someone who seemed very determined to make it on his own and to make his own way. He served in iraq at a time when we could say that about very few children of members of congress and when his fathers seat was opened after he was elected Vice President , he chose not to run for the senate. To finish his work in delaware in the attorney generals office. And the other thing i would say partially this is about joe biden. As many viewers know he was elected to the senate very young. And in the interim between his election and his swearing in his wife and young infant daughter were killed tragically in a car accident and he spent years after that in the senate commuting home every night, to delaware you know before there were helicopter parents, he was a railroad parent. Raising these two young boys. To see this kind of loss after that kind of dedication think this is partially about respect for him. As really one of the last happy warriors we have in our political system. Larry, let me ask you this how do you think this is likely to affect joe biden as Vice PresidentGoing Forward . Well most people doubt that hes going to run for president. I cant imagine this event would make it more likely. It could possibly make it less likely. But i think it does as ron is saying put emphasis and a spotlight on the relationship between the obamas and the bidens theyve actually grown quite close, i think its a closer relationship than usually exists. A personal relationship between the president ial family and the Vice President ial family. And obama and biden work very well together over the past six years. That isnt always true in our history. It hasnt been true in recent history in several circumstances. So its a tragic event, its a horrible event, somebody so young and with so much promise would die. But there may be some slight positive in this horrible negative. There was evidence of that closeness clearly just before commune there, as you saw the president and