The readings of today can be described as "apocalyptic." Apocalypse comes from a Greek word which means "revelation" or "unveiling". What is being unveiled to us is God's lordship over all. The line of thought running through these passages is one of hope. Hope, in Scripture, is not merely longing that something might happen (like hopes of winning a lottery), but a firm conviction that God in His goodness will prevail. Daniel survived in the den of lions because he was confident that his God was with him. He was not afraid of the impending trials because he was certain of God's faithfulness in times of trials.

Jesus, looking at Jerusalem and seeing that her inhabitants were far from true worship of their God, began to indicate to them the trials and tribulations that they were going to experience because of their coldness of heart towards God. Even nature around them suffers under the weight of these impending trials and tribulations.

Indeed, at the death of Jesus, the sky darkened. That experience of the closeness of life bursts forth with the great urgency for new hope. And that's why Jesus says, "Look up and raise your head because your redemption is near."