June 18, 2008
Tim
“If it’s Sunday, it’s Meet the Press.”
This was Tim Russert’s signature for his weekly program of inquiry and truth-telling. He often knew as much or more about his guests than they knew about themselves. This became the consistent and refreshing magnetism that drew not only his program’s large audiences, but, I suspect, contributed to the impressive outpouring of grief at his death.
The recurring theme throughout the reflections of his colleagues and friends has been the affirmation of what a student he was of the American and international political scene, how devoted he was to his family and his church, and how committed he was to truth.
It calls for me the Pauline triumvirate of faith, hope, and love. Russert’s faith, shaped through his churchmanship and honed by his Jesuit teachers, gave him a kind of secure self-esteem invaluable as he confronted leader after leader in our society. His hope for and commitment to these United States and our balanced system never seemed to waver in the face of many who’d behave in such a way as to undermine it. His love for his family and friends and the peace and justice which is its social counterpart yielded a strong and enduring fabric so essential to all the rest.
Faith, hope, and love, in a way that Frederick Buechner rang changes on grace, have after centuries of mishandling, become so shopworn that nobody’s much interested any more. But the unique thing about Tim Russert was not only his bringing them to the fore in all his personal and public persona, but even more, his harnessing them in stewardship to truth.
In a political ambiance poisoned so consistently by dishonesty in these immediately recent years, truth has become almost unrecognizable. Suddenly to see it become flesh and face to face in our retrospect of his life is a startling reminder that the catharsis of grief can truly heal and refresh us to our own introspection and renewal.
“If it’s Sunday, it’s Meet the Press.”
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