The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom and the favor of God was with him. In the First Reading, John has some good advice for the young as they venture into the world. John realizes that, in comparison to the other members of the society, the young stand on fickle ground because of their enthusiasm and energy. In their yearning for independence even as they embark on adventure, young people become susceptible to the fleeting ‘goodies’ that the world enticingly dangles before them. John advices them to be weary of the jungle that the world is and to be on guard lest they find themselves swept downstream into oblivion. But John also has some good news to share with them: theirs is not a losing war! Theirs is a war that has already been won for them even before it starts (they have been forgiven, they know the Father, and together they have conquered the evil one). Had John written his epistle before the time of Jesus, we would have concluded that Jesus heeded John’s advice. For as we read in the Gospel today, Jesus grew up full of wisdom and God’s favor rested upon him. 
Jesus needed not to have been aware of John’s advice in order for God’s favor to rest upon him. John simply reiterated what had been there from the beginning. God’s favor rested on Jesus because he was obedient to God and to God’s word. He understood that God was his Father and with God’s help, he was able to conquer the evil one. The word of God remained in him. 
We are all ‘youngsters’ in the eyes of God, and John’s advice is for all of us. The world in which we live is fleeting, and so are the things that the world offers us, including those things which we consider inalienable. However, the things that the world offers us can only be of benefit if the wisdom from God helps us in our discernment of how to use them. Jesus was filled with God’s wisdom, and this allowed him to successfully navigate the treacherous ways of the world. May we pray for the wisdom from God so that, like Jesus, we may be able to faithfully live our calling as he did. Like Jesus, may it be said that the favor of the Lord is resting upon us.