Church Fathers Commentary Luke 1:80

"And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel." — Luke 1:80 (ASV)

The Venerable Bede: The future preacher of repentance, so that he could more boldly reclaim his listeners from the allurements of the world, spent the first part of his life in the deserts. Hence it is said, And the child grew.

Theophylact of Ohrid: That is, in bodily stature, and he grew strong in spirit, for as his body grew, his spiritual gift increased at the same time, and the workings of the Spirit were increasingly manifested in him.

Origen of Alexandria: Or he increased in spirit, not remaining at the same level where he had begun, but the Spirit was always growing in him. His will, always tending toward better things, was making its own progress, and his mind was always contemplating something more divine, while his memory exercised itself to store more and more in its treasury and retain it more firmly. But he adds, And he grew strong. For human nature is weak; as we learn, the flesh is weak. It must therefore be made strong by the Spirit, for the Spirit is ready. Many grow strong in the flesh, but the wrestler of God must be strengthened by the Spirit so that he may crush the wisdom of the flesh.

He therefore retired to escape the noise of cities and the crowds of people. For it follows, And he was in the deserts. There the air is purer, the sky is clearer, and God is a closer friend, so that, since the time had not yet arrived for his baptism and preaching, he might have time for prayer and could converse with the angels, calling upon God and fearing Him, saying, Behold, here I am.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Or, he was in the deserts so that he might be brought up beyond the reach of the malice of the crowd, and not be afraid of people. For if he had been in the world, perhaps he would have been corrupted by its friendship and interaction. And secondly, so that he who was to preach Christ might also be considered trustworthy. But he was hidden in the desert until it pleased God to reveal him to the people of Israel, as it follows, till the day of his showing forth to Israel.

St. Ambrose of Milan: And the time during which the prophet was in the womb is rightly noted, so that the presence of Mary would not be overlooked, while they are silent about the time of his childhood. Because, having been strengthened in the womb by the presence of the Mother of the Lord, he did not know the struggles of childhood.