Romans 13:8-10 / Luke 14:25-33
For a non-Catholic to be baptized, he/she would usually have to go through a period of formation.
And usually it would be through the RCIA process which would be at least for half a year.
Couples who are getting married are required to go for a preparatory course on marriage, either with the Catholic Engaged Encounter (CEE) or Marriage Preparation Course (MPC).
These are just two examples of a period of careful consideration and preparation before making that important irreversible life-changing decision and commitment.
Jesus is quite direct and straight-forward when He tells us what it means to follow Him.
He is not saying: Come follow me, and all your worries and problems will be solved (at least not just like that!)
On the contrary, it may be our challenges have just begun.
We would know by now that during the Roman times, the condemned person would have to carry the cross to the place of execution and then experience a painful death.
But when Jesus tells us to carry the cross, He is telling us to prepare ourselves to face the consequences of our choice.
If we have chosen to follow Christ, then we can't keep looking back at the things that we have given up, nor can we keep looking at the things that we have to give up in order to follow Jesus as His disciples.
It is only when we let go of ourselves, and embrace the cross, then we will know what salvation really means and that we have made the best decision of our lives.