At National Prayer Breakfast Biden laments distant relations between lawmakers, prays for unity

(The Slice): Pres. Joe Biden lamented the disconnect among lawmakers at the National Prayer Breakfast held in Washington, DC on Thursday, Feb. 3.

The President noted the country is “at a moment of deep division,” urged people to follow Jesus’s instruction to “serve rather than be served,” adding “I don’t always do it.”

“I pray to keep the faith in the very promise of America,” he said, urging people to look beyond their differences and see the good in one another.

He prayed that “we get back to the place…that we really get to know each other. It’s hard to really dislike someone when you know what they’re going through.”

It was a day that he could use more prayers than usual himself -- his late son Beau Biden's birthday. Pres. Biden seemed moved by the sensitivity about his dealing with loss that the co-sponsor of the gathering, Sen. Kirsten Gillebrand (D-New York) expressed.

The prescription for this division in the thoughts of Georgia Senator and Pastor Raphael Warnock is love. "Teach us, O gracious God, How to love one another," he requested in the opening prayer.

Pres. Biden seemed moved by Gillibrand’s introduction about his overcoming immense loss. She said, "Show me a man who has endured great loss and still has faith. I will show you a man who has learned to serve and how to lead.

Speaking off the cuff at the top about the day being his son Beau’s birthday, Biden recalled their last conversation in the hospital saying that he promised his some that he would keep going even though he felt like doing nothing in that panful moment. He said he didn’t deserve so much praise for overcoming personal loss because he had so much family help.

“Everybody has got horrible things that happen to them,” he said. “I had a lot of help.”

Before speaking Mr. Biden offered several personal asides to attending senators.

To McConnell: “I don’t want to hurt your reputation, but we really are friends.”

To Chris Coons: ". . .the boy can preach. He’s the only guy that went to law school and got a divinity degree at the same time. I worry about “divine” lawyers.

He also acknowledge Christian Artist Kari Jobe who led worship with Cody Carnes: "You have the voice of an angel kid."

He asked for prayers for Senator Lujan, who he said he thinks is “going to be okay.” Sen. Ben Ray (D-NM) Lujan who had a stroke.

The National Prayer Breakfast is a bi-partisan tradition, but this year the attendance was patchy compared to the previous administration, perhaps a reflection of the political polarization in the country. Under the Trump Administration the voice of evangelicals was strong and their presence was known at such gatherings. The tone of the crowd was a pep-rally styled unity.