There are two great narratives on this daf about prayers being answered, or not. On 25a there is the great story of Levi, who ordained a fast, got nothing, and responds with what can only be called "going negative." (I can hear it now: This is Levi, and I approve of this message...) He gets what he wants, but he goes lame from the effort. (Or does he? Maybe he went lame from his crazy bowing...)
Then we have the story of R. Eliezer and R. Akiva on 25b, and the fascinating interchange there about why R. Akiva's prayers get answered and R. Eliezer's do not. Furthermore there has been a recurring theme of so-and-so declaring a fast and no rain falling. These past few amudim have felt as though they are really about prayers not being answered, or expectations of God's power or responsiveness not being met.
The rabbis never come out and say so explicitly, but it's hard to shake the feeling that the Rabbis knew how prayer often seemed to disappear into the abyss with no discernible result, and they seem to have passed along stories designed to cast that experience into relief.
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But along with that, the rabbis also seemed to have a strong belief that the acceptance of their prayers was directly related to their actions. Hence fasting and the story about R Eliezer and R Akiva among others. The message about prayer seems to be that words alone don't cut it, upright behavior is also required.
Now let's get silly like we're in Mehoza.
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