Genesis 19:15-29 / Matthew 8:23-27
The 1st reading gives the account of the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
It's a well-known Bible story, partly because it is a fire and brimstone kind of story about destruction and punishment for sin.
But it is also a story that has a mystery to it that would raise immediate questions. It is about Lot's wife who turned into a pillar of salt just because she looked back. Several reasons were given for this.
One common view of Lot's wife turning to salt was as punishment for disobeying the angels' warning. By looking back at the "evil cities" she betrayed her secret longing for that way of life. She was deemed unworthy to be saved and thus turned to a pillar of salt.
Another view is that when Lot's wife looked back, she turned to a pillar of salt upon the sight of God who was descending down to rain destruction upon Sodom and Gomorrah.
One reason for Lot's wife looking back, and that was to check if her daughters, who were married to men of Sodom, were coming or not. Instead, she saw God descending to rain fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah. Thus, the sight of God turned her into a pillar of salt.
Another view has it that because Lot's wife sinned with salt, she was punished with salt. On the night the two angels visited Lot, he requested of his wife to prepare a feast for them. Not having any salt, Lot's wife asked of her neighbours for salt which so happened to alert them of the presence of their guests, resulting in the mob action that endangered Lot's family.
Whatever reason it might be, the fact is that our lives must be directed towards God. If not then we will be easily distracted and lose focus and lose our directions.
Especially in the storms of life, we must keep our focus on Jesus and keep heading towards Him. Only Jesus can keep us from danger and from sinking into the salty waters.