One of the unintended consequences of the ubiquitous presence of technology is a diminishing of our attention spans. We find it more challenging to stay focused or on task. This is true even in those moments when we need to be intently present. The ping from a cellphone can ruin the most intimate and important moments of our lives.

At the same time, we live in a state of tension between the seen and the unseen. Some of us focus solely on the experiential world (or so we imagine) relying on sense experience to define reality, while others are more tuned in to the ethereal or spiritual world.

The confluence of these two postmodern dynamics can certainly diminish one’s ability to pray, much less be focused on prayer.

Our Readings this weekend offer us a warning and a promise about the need to be consistent and constant in prayer.

The First Reading recounts a battle between the Israelites and the Amalekites. Moses sat on the hill overlooking the battlefield with his arms raised to heaven as a sign of benediction and supplication. When he lets his arms down the Israelite army begins to falter so much so, that his aides needed to prop up his arms so that the army could see him and be strengthened in battle.

In truth, whether or not Moses’s arms were raised had nothing to do with their success. But when his arms were lowered, they thought he was no longer praying, and they lost heart.

While there is a message of constancy in supplication that comes through the connection with the Gospel parable where a corrupt judge finally rules in favor of a persistent widow because of her determination, this is not the only message we need to learn.

While a steadfast commitment to prayer is essential to the life of discipleship, one first needs to have belief in the efficacy of that prayer. As we raise our hearts, minds and souls to God, we need some assurance that there is a God who is listening, that God is loving and merciful, and that our prayers can make a difference. It demands a life of faith – faith deepens prayer, and prayer is deepened through faith. St. Paul reminds Timothy of this in the Second Reading, as he writes: “Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Often we know that we get what we ask for – and that we need then to be careful what we ask for – the same is true in prayer. We must be careful what we pray for, and be consistent in prayer. In fact, many people don’t pray because they don’t know how to or they feel that they aren’t good at it as nothing they ever pray for comes to fruition. Too often, instead of this experience edging us on to pray more fervently, we give up, feeling that praying is pointless. We lose focus, and move on to other things.

Here, like the Israelites, we become our own enemy. They needed the sign. They lacked confidence in God’s never ending mercy. Moses’ prayer was no less fervent when his hands were down than when they were raised. Often we grasp at similar straws. We need the miracle or the sign from God that he is listening and present to our prayers. There, we are putting God to the test, making sure he is there before we place our hope in him.

This is why Jesus asks: “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.

Readings for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Ex 17: 8-13; 2TM 3:14-4:2; Lk 18:1-8

To view a listing of daily Scripture Readings, visit usccb.org/bible then click on the date on the calendar.