today's other readings are Jer. 17: 5-10 and Psalm 1
The rich man of today's parable was actually a very tolerant man. He allowed Lazarus to stay by his gate of his house. Think about it. If you had a homeless person who continually stayed outside your door or at the the end of your driveway, what would you do? Ask him to leave? Call the police? I dare say most would.
But the rich man allows him to stay. As I said, he showed a lot of tolerance. But zero compassion. For there stayed Lazarus, starving and ill, body covered in sores. And the rich man did nothing about it. For this, the rich man fully earns his final "reward".
We cannot help every single person - but we can make a difference with a least one person. And they do not have to be as destitute as Lazarus. But someone who is isolated, alone, desperate.
We can make a difference. And today's parable warns us of the reality that may await if we do not.