The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighbourhood. (Mark 5: 14-17)

When our expectations are overturned we often react in fear. Even if our expectations were bad and the results are good.

We are comforted by repeating patterns. We are entertained by slight variations in pattern. We are troubled when a pattern does not behave to form.

Jesus offers a new pattern. It is radically unlike what we have known. Will we be as those in the story who ask Jesus to leave?